NKorea’s China Trade Jumps In 2011

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea’s trade with China surged 62 percent in 2011, a sign of deepening dependence on Pyongyang’s biggest ally. South Korea’s Statistics Korea said Thursday that North Korea’s exports and imports with China reached $5.63 billion in 2011, compared with $3.47 billion in the previous year.

China accounted for 70 percent of North Korea’s annual trade in 2011, higher than 57 percent in 2010. South Korea was North Korea’s second-biggest trade partner after China. It accounted for 21 percent of annual trade of its northern neighbor last year. Statistics Korea said the volume of North Korea’s annual trade reached $6.32 billion last year, up 51 percent from 2010. It said its figures are gathered from official statistics figures in overseas countries through KOTRA, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency.