China and North Korea Trade Rebounds to Near Pre Pandemic Levels in 2025
Bilateral trade between China and North Korea rose 25 percent in 2025 to 2.73 billion dollars. This recovery follows high-level meetings in Beijing last year.
Two-way trade between China 
CNand North Korea 
KProse 25 percent in 2025 compared to 2024 to reach a total of $2.73 billion. This figure was close to the $2.79 billion recorded in 2019, signalling a return toward pre-pandemic levels. The rebound follows a period of contraction where bilateral trade dropped 5 percent in 2024 from 2023 to $2.18 billion. The recovery reflects a normalization of economic ties after years of border restrictions and uncertainty regarding North Koreaand its relationship with its neighbors.
CNand North Korea KProse 25 percent in 2025 compared to 2024 to reach a total of $2.73 billion. This figure was close to the $2.79 billion recorded in 2019, signalling a return toward pre-pandemic levels. The rebound follows a period of contraction where bilateral trade dropped 5 percent in 2024 from 2023 to $2.18 billion. The recovery reflects a normalization of economic ties after years of border restrictions and uncertainty regarding North Koreaand its relationship with its neighbors.In September 2025, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un kim jong unvisited Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping xi jinping. This was their first meeting in six years, and both leaders affirmed their commitment to developing ties and deepening cooperation between their respective nations. Chinaremains the largest trading partner for North Korea, serving as a vital economic lifeline even as the latter is subject to international sanctions for its nuclear weapons programme.
