Ministry of Unification Spokesperson: "Understood as Completion of North Korea-China Consultations"
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Regarding reports that the North Korea-China freight train operating between Sinuiju, North Korea, and Dandong, China, resumed operations on the 26th, the Ministry of Unification stated, "Considering various circumstances, we believe that the freight train operation between North Korea and China resumed today."
Cho Jung-hoon, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, said at a regular briefing that "although neither North Korea nor China has officially confirmed the resumption of freight train operations between the two countries," they have confirmed the fact that the freight train has resumed operations.
Spokesperson Cho said, "Today, the North Korea-China freight train operated for the first time since it was suspended," adding, "It is necessary to observe a bit more regarding whether the train operation will continue in the future and what goods will be transported."
Regarding the basis for this judgment, he explained, "Since the Emergency Epidemic Prevention General Meeting in North Korea on August 10, where Chairman Kim Jong-un declared victory in the maximum emergency epidemic prevention war and announced the transition from the maximum emergency epidemic prevention system to a normal epidemic prevention system with heightened tension, the possibility of resuming train operations between North Korea and China has been continuously raised," and added, "This operation is understood to be the result of finalized consultations between North Korea and China."
The North Korea-China freight train resumed operations for the first time in 150 days since operations were suspended on April 29. At that time, COVID-19 was spreading in Dandong, and North Korea officially announced the occurrence of COVID-19 cases to the outside on May 12.
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