{"id":4190,"date":"2019-05-08T10:06:18","date_gmt":"2019-05-08T01:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4190"},"modified":"2019-05-17T17:43:49","modified_gmt":"2019-05-17T08:43:49","slug":"strict-chinese-customs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2019\/05\/recommendations\/strict-chinese-customs\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInside N. Korea\uff1e Border Betrayal: Strict Chinese Customs Stifles Smuggling and Leaves Regime Red-faced"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A single cargo truck at the border. All is quiet at the North Korean customs office. Photograph taken from the Chinese side of the border in November, 2017 by ISHIMARU Jiro.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u25c6 A harsh crackdown on smuggling<\/h2>\n

North Korean trading companies are crying out. Since March, Chinese authorities have been conducting strict customs inspections and cracking down on smuggling, dealing a severe blow to North Korean trade. This has led to great concern among officials as well, with China\u2019s economic pressure causing much embarrassment for the authorities and a deterioration in state relations. (Kang Ji-won \/ ISHIMARU Jiro)<\/p>\n

Mr. Kim is a businessman in China\u2019s Jilin Province and is responsible for trade with North Korea. He is a close acquaintance of a Chinese ASIAPRESS employee. Mr. Kim\u2019s primary business is sending cloth to the North Korean city of Rason, in North Hamkyung Province, where he commissions the production of clothing. These transfers were in violation of the UN sanctions but, after talks with Chinese government officials, Mr. Kim managed to have his shipments sent to North Korea disguised as other products, rather than be counted as textiles. From March, however, strict customs inspections have made it impossible to ship them out.<\/p>\n

In order to ship products back to China, Mr. Kim consulted with his counterpart in North Korea and arranged to have the goods smuggled out along the upper reaches of the Yalu River. In anticipation of the transfer, Mr. Kim sent two trucks, mostly packed with clothing, to Hyesan city in Yanggang Province to stand by. Around Hyesan, Chinese border guards are known to be susceptible to bribery. In the past year, the area has been the most active site of smuggling along the 1,400 km border.<\/p>\n

As of mid-April, however, Mr. Kim\u2019s trucks were still waiting on standby and no clothing had yet been received. He says that the border guards have not even countenanced bribes.<\/p>\n

A senior official of a Chinese trading company in Jilin Province, long engaged in legal and illegal trade with North Korea along the Yalu River, also expressed his frustration over the economic slump.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t even go near the Yalu River at night. The road is blocked and all vehicles carrying cargo are inspected. If any North Korean products are found, all of the products are confiscated and all those involved are arrested. On April 9, a Chinese businessman who tried to send minibus and car parts across the Yalu River had his goods confiscated and was arrested at the scene. The border is giving us such a hard time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next page : Rigorous inspections of visiting civilians\u2019 luggage\u2026 <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u25c6 Rigorous inspections of visiting civilians\u2019 luggage<\/h2>\n

The situation on the North Korean side of the border seems to be much more dire. One trading company involved in international smuggling, under the direction of the North Korean government, has been tasked with bringing in smuggled cars and parts that are banned by the sanctions. Recently, however, all they have been hearing from their Chinese counterparts is that \u201csecurity is too tight, it\u2019s impossible to send anything\u201d. North Korean officials from the government\u2019s \u201cinternational smuggling\u201d division have been waiting at the border for shipments themselves but have withdrawn when trucks show no signs of movement.<\/p>\n

According to a reporting partner with intimate knowledge of the smuggling situation in Hyesan City, pressure from the Chinese government has not been restricted to just trade. North Korean civilians visiting China have been subjected to strict inspections as well, with their luggage checked according to sanctions criteria. The Chinese customs office has also been informing North Koreans that, if they plan to visit relatives in China, they will not be allowed to take any electronic goods back home with them to North Korea.<\/p>\n

Certain North Korean citizens may apply for permission to visit relatives in China once every few years, so long as they pay the necessary amount of money to the authorities. If a North Korean civilian manages to secure permission, they will certainly be asked by relatives and friends to bring many goods back with them. Chinese customs officials, however, have been checking visitors\u2019 personal items very strictly.<\/p>\n

Said the reporting partner, \u201cThe customs inspections have become so strict- one of my acquaintances who visited China had 10 out of his 12 pieces of luggage, which were packed with used clothing and things, confiscated at customs. He said that he could only get back with 2 of the cases.\u201d<\/p>\n

There also seems to be a feeling of embarrassment and agitation brewing amongst government officials and traders due to the noticeable rise in Chinese pressure.<\/p>\n

The reporting partner in North Korea said, \u201cThe U.S. is so strong, so China is just doing as it\u2019s told right? Or has North Korea\u2019s relationship with China suddenly deteriorated? Even compared to America, China is scary. At the end of the day, China isn\u2019t on our side. The government officials are saying these type of things. There\u2019s a sense of insecurity spreading amongst their superiors too.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The upper reaches of the Yalu River, the largest site of smuggling.<\/p><\/div>\n

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