Traders say business as usual at China-N Korea border

AFP, DANDONG: Trucks still line up bumper-to-bumper on the "Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge" to bring goods from North Korea into China even as Beijing faces massive pressure to strangle its Communist ally economically.

Some two dozen trucks awaited clearance to enter the border city of Dandong, through which 70 percent of North Korea's trade passes, a day after Pyongyang successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday.

While United Nations sanctions do not ban all trade with North Korea, US President Donald Trump has berated China for not doing more to cut off more sources of cash that have kept the reclusive regime afloat.

The US administration is now leading a new push at the UN to impose tougher sanctions on Pyongyang after Trump complained that trade between China and North Korea had surged in the first quarter.

Traders in Dandong acknowledge that it is business as usual at the border, with taxi drivers saying they have not seen a dip in the number of North Korean merchants visiting the city in recent days.

Gold is among the raw materials from North Korea that are banned under UN sanctions.

But the manager of a store selling "North Korean speciality products" on the boardwalk of the Yalu River said her employees have had no trouble going across the border to purchase gold and silver in recent months.

The manager, who refused to give her name, said the raw material is sent to factories in the southern city of Guangzhou, where it is made into rings and bracelets.

"It's cheaper to buy from North Korea, so the prices we offer shoppers are cheaper than what they can normally find in China," she said.

"We operate as normal. We have been working with the same North Korean suppliers for years."

A clerk in another gift shop down the street, which employs a similar business model for its gold jewelry, said she does not know about any disruptions.

Traders say business as usual at China-N Korea border

AFP, DANDONG: Trucks still line up bumper-to-bumper on the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge to bring goods from North Korea into China even as Beijing faces massive pressure to strangle its Communist ally economically. Some two dozen trucks awaited clearance to enter the border city of Dandong, through which 70 percent of North Koreas trade passes, a day after Pyongyang successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday. While United Nations sanctions do not ban all trade with North Korea, US President Donald Trump has berated China for not doing more to cut off more sources of cash that have kept the reclusive regime afloat. The US administration is now leading a new push at the UN to impose tougher sanctions on Pyongyang after Trump complained that trade between China and North Korea had surged in the first quarter. Traders in Dandong acknowledge that it is business as usual at the border, with taxi drivers saying they have not seen a dip in the number of North Korean merchants visiting the city in recent days. Gold is among the raw materials from North Korea that are banned under UN sanctions. But the manager of a store selling North Korean speciality products on the boardwalk of the Yalu River said her employees have had no trouble going across the border to purchase gold and silver in recent months. The manager, who refused to give her name, said the raw material is sent to factories in the southern city of Guangzhou, where it is made into rings and bracelets. Its cheaper to buy from North Korea, so the prices we offer shoppers are cheaper than what they can normally find in China, she said. We operate as normal. We have been working with the same North Korean suppliers for years. A clerk in another gift shop down the street, which employs a similar business model for its gold jewelry, said she does not know about any disruptions.