North Korea imports of Chinese masks, gloves surged before it declared COVID victory

Volunteers perform disinfection work throughout an anti-virus marketing campaign in Pyongyang, North Korea on this picture launched by North Korea’s Korean Central Information Company (KCNA) on March 4, 2020.

BEIJING, Aug 20 (Reuters) – North Korea imported greater than 1 million facial masks and 15,000 pairs of rubber gloves from China in July, shortly earlier than declaring victory over COVID-19, Chinese language commerce confirmed on Saturday.

Pyongyang final week declared victory over the coronavirus, ending a little-detailed battle towards “fever” instances that had risen to 4.77 million. It has registered no new such instances since July 29. learn extra

Nonetheless, China exported 1.23 million facial masks to North Korea in July, price $44,307, surging from 17,000 the earlier month, in keeping with information launched by Chinese language customs.

From January to July, the final month for which information is offered, the North purchased greater than 11.93 million masks from China, information confirmed.

North Korea didn’t import any COVID-19 prevention and management merchandise from China in Might, the information confirmed. learn extra

China’s general exports to North Korea surged to $59.74 million in July from $19.05 million in June.

High exports had been semi- or wholly milled rice, cigarettes, disodium carbonate and smoked sheets of pure rubber.

North Korea purchased $5.16 million price of semi or wholly milled rice, $1.98 million of soybean oil & fractions, $1.21 million of granulated sugar in July, the Chinese language customs information confirmed.

China suspended cross-border freight prepare providers with North Korea following consultations as a consequence of COVID-19 infections in its border metropolis of Dandong, China’s overseas ministry mentioned on April 29. learn extra

Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu; Enhancing by William Mallard

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