Who Still Trades With North Korea
North Korea is one of the most isolated regimes in the world and has been a major concern of the international community for decades. It has been subject to extensive international sanctions due to its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, and its human rights abuses, making it difficult for the isolated regime to engage in international trade. Despite widespread condemnation, some countries have chosen to continue trading with North Korea, reasoning that this is the best way to help improve the citizens’ lives and bring the country back into the global fold.
One of the major players in North Korea’s foreign trade is China. While China has occasionally and reluctantly enforced UN-imposed economic sanctions on North Korea, it has also moved to offset these sanctions by expanding its economic ties with the secretive nation. Trade between the two countries has grown, with China’s imports and exports to and from North Korea soaring over the past five years. In 2020, Chinese exports to North Korea totalled nearly $3 billion, while its imports from the country reached a record high of over $900 million.
Russia is another key player in North Korea’s trade. Despite Russia’s adherence to international sanctions, it is estimated that it supplies hundreds of millions of dollars of fuel and other goods to North Korea every year. In 2020, Russia exported over $506 million worth of goods to North Korea, making it the second most important trade partner after China. Russia has also been a major proponent of efforts to establish lasting peace between North and South Korea.
Other countries that engage in trade with North Korea include Indonesia,Syria, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar. These countries are usually able to carry out their trade with North Korea through foreign intermediaries and third countries, which allows them to evade international sanctions. The total amount of annual trade between these countries and North Korea is unknown but estimated at around $900 million.
Despite the efforts of these countries to sustain North Korea’s economy, there is still evidence that the regime is facing difficulty accessing international markets. Its exports fell by nearly 15% in 2020, while its imports also decreased by 18%. The UN has also tracked a significant drop in North Korea’s trade with UN members since 2017, when the latest round of sanctions was implemented.
The US is the major antagonist of North Korea’s trade. It has implemented the toughest sanctions against the regime, which include targeted sanctions on those individuals and organizations that have benefited from the country’s illicit activities, as well as a ban on the export of any products to or from North Korea. The US has also recently expanded the scope of its sanctions to include vessels that had been sailing to or from North Korean ports.
In short, while there are a number of countries that still actively engage in trade with North Korea, the US continues to impose stringent sanctions which have had an immense impact in restricting the North Korean economy. While these countries may have their own reasons for continuing to trade with North Korea, the US stance does not seem likely to change anytime soon.
Impact of International Sanctions
International sanctions have had a major impact on the North Korean economy since the implementation of the latest round in 2017. This includes a decrease in the exports and imports of North Korea, as well as a serious depletion of the value of its currency. Most significantly, the sanctions have had a direct impact on the access that citizens have to food, with reports of widespread malnutrition.
The situation has been compounded by the country’s poor economic management, with billions of dollars spent on its nuclear program and military. Furthermore, the population has been subjected to a draconian system of censorship and control, with the government attempting to control the flow of information both inside and outside of the country.
The strain of international sanctions has also strained diplomatic relations between North Korea and its neighbours, most notably South Korea, who is a major proponent of tougher sanctions against North Korea. In recent years, South Korea has moved to curtail imports from the North, while also attempting to curb illegal cross-border trade.
The long-term impact of international sanctions on North Korea is difficult to measure, but it is clear that the regime is under severe pressure to modernise its economy and open the country up again to international trade. There is also evidence that the citizens of North Korea are growing increasingly desperate for a change in their living conditions, with protests in response to the worsening economy.
Role of International Aid
International aid plays an important role in providing relief to the people of North Korea, who suffer significantly due to the lack of access to food, medicine and other essentials. In recent years, there has been a renewed focus on providing more humanitarian aid, with both South Korea and China attempting to work with the regime to provide relief.
Monitoring and verification of aid is difficult, with little success in verifying that aid has been used to specifically benefit the most vulnerable populations. In some cases, aid is diverted to the military, while in other cases it is diverted to wealthy elites, suggesting that the intended beneficiaries do not always get access to the resources.
International aid is also hampered by restrictions on access, with North Korea placing strict limits on the operations of foreign aid organisations. This often prohibits aid organisations from monitoring and verifying the use of aid, or from directly engaging the beneficiaries themselves.
The success of international aid is also complicated by North Korea’s complicated relations with the US and other countries. Many countries have resisted providing aid, citing the potential for their money to fund the regime’s nuclear and missile programs. As a result, the international community has been slow to act and provide substantial aid to the citizens of North Korea.
What the Future Holds
The future of North Korea is uncertain, with the regime facing immense international pressure over its nuclear and missile programs and human rights abuses. It is clear that the international sanctions have had an impact on the economy and the population, but there is also evidence that the citizens are desperate for change. The international community must find a way to reach out to the citizens, while at the same time preventing the regime from further isolating the country.
One potential way forward is for the international community to engage directly with North Korea in a diplomatic dialogue, rather than threatening further sanctions. Such a dialogue could open up new possibilities to improve the situation for the citizens and for the region as a whole. However, this route will likely be difficult, given the regime’s continued reluctance to engage in meaningful talks.
It is clear that international trade remains one of the main ways for North Korea to engage with the global community. While this presents the risk of funds being diverted to the military, it also provides an opportunity for engagement and the chance to ultimately change the situation. The international community must assess the risks and rewards carefully before coming to any conclusions on how to deal with the issue.
Alternative Solutions
Rather than just relying on economic sanctions to bring about change in North Korea, the international community should look for alternative solutions. One potential option is for the international community to provide aid to North Korea without any strings attached, which would allow for greater monitoring of its use and would ensure that it reaches the most vulnerable citizens. Such aid would need to be substantial enough to make a tangible difference.
Furthermore, the idea of economic isolation should not be seen as the only way to bring about change. Engagement with the citizens of North Korea is essential to bring about lasting change, and this can be done through diplomatic efforts, cultural exchange programs, and efforts to increase the access of North Korean citizens to international media.
Ultimately, the only way to bring about real change in North Korea is through a concerted international effort that works to both pressure the regime and offer aid to the citizens. Such an effort must be balanced, and should involve both economic sanctions and diplomatic dialogue. The international community must act quickly if it is to avoid further suffering for the people of North Korea.
Regional Cooperation
The most effective way for the international community to bring about change in North Korea is through regional cooperation. South Korea and China have a particularly important role to play, given their strong economic ties to North Korea. South Korea should also work to involve North Korea in multilateral negotiations, and use its influence to ensure that North Korean citizens get access to international aid.
The US also has a role to play, and should look to engage with the citizens of North Korea and use the power of its voice to support the provision of aid. Furthermore, the US should work to involve North Korea in negotiations with South Korea and other countries in order to reach a lasting peace between the two sides and to open up opportunities for economic growth.
The international community must work together to bring about change in North Korea, with economic sanctions and diplomatic engagement both being necessary. Only through regional cooperation and substantial efforts to involve the citizens in change can the international community hope to make a real difference in the lives of the North Korean people.
The Role of the UN
The United Nations plays an important role in advocating for the people of North Korea and in preventing the regime from further isolating the country. The UN should use its international standing to push for the implementation of economic sanctions, while at the same time advocating for the provision of humanitarian aid and the pursuit of lasting peace.
The UN should also make use of its resources to track the implementation of sanctions, and should work to ensure that no country is engaging in any illegal trade with North Korea. Such monitoring and tracking will hold countries accountable for their actions and ensure that the sanctions remain effective.
Ultimately, the UN has an important role to play in advocating for the citizens of North Korea and in bringing about lasting change. It must use its resources to support the international community in its efforts to both pressure the regime and provide the citizens with aid, and should continue to act as a watchdog when it comes to tracking illegal trade and sanctions.
