North Korea to Receive COVID-19 Supplies from China... "Cargo Train Operated Twice"

"All Loaded Cargo Is Medical Supplies"

The North Korea-China border bridge and Sinuiju, North Korea, as seen from Dandong, Liaoning Province.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] It has been confirmed that a freight train carrying medical supplies to support North Korea operated twice the previous night in Dandong, Liaoning Province, China.

According to multiple sources on North Korea on the 27th, the North Korea-China freight train entered from Dandong to Sinuiju, North Korea twice at 9 PM and 10 PM on the 26th. A source said, "It carried a total of 60 freight cars, 30 cars each time," adding, "All the cargo was medical supplies."

This is the first time since operations resumed in January that the North Korea-China freight train has run twice a day. Until now, it operated only once a day.

A source on North Korea said, "The number of freight cars is much larger compared to the previous 10 to 15 cars per day."

Earlier, Dandong imposed a full city lockdown on the 25th of last month, and four days later on the 29th, the North Korea-China freight train operations were also suspended. The North Korea-China freight train had stopped operating around August 2020 due to the spread of COVID-19 in China and resumed on January 16.

Meanwhile, on the 16th, it was confirmed that three multipurpose large transport aircraft belonging to North Korea's state airline, Air Koryo, arrived at Taoxian Airport in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, loaded with pharmaceuticals, and returned to North Korea the same afternoon.

These transport aircraft are IL-76s with a cargo weight capacity of 50 tons, the largest transport aircraft in North Korea, with only three in the country. The resumption of North Korea-China air routes was the first in over two years.

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a regular briefing on the 13th, shortly after North Korea first confirmed the occurrence of COVID-19, "We will strengthen epidemic prevention cooperation with North Korea and provide support and assistance based on their requests."