(All of the content stated in this article is based on reliable sources, and is repeated at the end of the article)
Text丨The sun is warm
Editor丨Sunshine is warm
In our perception, North Korea has always been mysterious, closed and backward, and we know very little about it.
In terms of international trade, unlike Thailand, which exports fruits, and South Korea, which exports electronics, we have never heard of the goods that North Korea exports to other countries, and the types of goods that are exported to the mainland are even less known.
According to 2023 statistics, North Korea exported 2 billion yuan of goods to the mainland.
What are these commodities and why are they exported to the mainland?
wig
In 2023, 57.31% of North Korea's exports to the mainland are wigs and false eyelashes, a full 1,821 tons, with an import value of 1.18 billion yuan. It is located in the first place in the export value of goods exported from North Korea to China.
Affected by the epidemic in previous years, North Korea's export trade to the mainland was greatly affected, and it was not until last year that it returned to normal, so last year there was a great demand for wigs and false eyelashes in the mainland, and the price also doubled several times.
According to the data, North Korea exported more than 1,680 tons of wigs and false eyelashes in 2019 and 1,829 tons in 2023, but its revenue is 5.6 times that of before.
The reason why the mainland imports wig products from North Korea is because North Korea has unique production skills, and the quality of wig products is very good and realistic, and the mainland often imported wig products from North Korea before the epidemic.
Another reason why the mainland has been importing wigs and false eyelashes from North Korea is that North Korea's labor costs are very low, which makes North Korea more competitive than other countries in this regard.
Wig production is a labor-intensive industry, and if you want to make an excellent wig, there is an important process - crochet.
In short, it is necessary to hook the wig to the fake scalp one by one, which is time-consuming and laborious. However, the labor cost in the mainland has been very high in recent years, and if workers are allowed to produce wigs in large quantities, the profits are too thin, so this important link will be handed over to the North Koreans.
According to insiders, North Korea's labor costs are half of those in China.
Why does the mainland buy so many wigs from North Korea? Is it because the Chinese have serious hair loss? Actually, no.
Many processing factories on the mainland import wigs and false eyelashes from North Korea, and then package them and label them as Made in China, of course, for sale.
Wigs and false eyelashes that have been reprocessed in mainland China are sold at home and abroad.
Nowadays, the export trade of wigs and false eyelashes has become the main way for North Korea to increase foreign exchange.
Mineral
North Korea is known as a mineral herbarium, and it has abundant mineral resources, including magnesite, iron ore and other minerals, and the amount of mineral resources exported by South Korea is also impressive.
North Korea has more than 400 kinds of mineral reserves, of which more than 80 are of commercial value. Iron crystal ore and tungsten wood ore account for a large proportion of North Korea's total export trade to China.
In 2023, North Korea's exports to the mainland of goods such as steel and metal minerals ranked second and third, respectively, with an export value of about 200 million.
Because of the large amount of mineral resources it holds, North Korea stands out in the global mineral resources market.
The DPRK's mineral resources are not only diverse and have large reserves, but also have relatively large mining potential and high quality.
According to statistics, the price of mineable ore in North Korea is as high as more than 6 trillion US dollars, and the population of North Korea in 2023 is more than 20 million.
However, due to North Korea's limited technology and lack of funds, North Korea's mineral resources are developed to a limited extent, which makes people feel that this is a pity.
For the huge mineral resources, now North Korea can only make a small fuss, it is better for them to sell wigs to make money.
electricity
North Korea exports the fourth largest electricity product to the mainland, but can you imagine that North Korea is actually a country that lacks electricity?
Although North Korea is rich in coal, its electricity is so poor that even the big hotels in the North Korean capital cannot guarantee normal power supply.
But in 2023, we imported 536 million kWh of electricity from North Korea, with an import value of 157 million.
If North Korea is so short of electricity, why is it exporting to the mainland?
It turned out to be because of the shortage of foreign exchange in North Korea.
In 2017, the United Nations Security Council passed several resolutions to cut off all sources of North Korea's foreign exchange fund, making it impossible for North Korea to export many goods.
Later, after a few years of the epidemic, North Korea's foreign exchange reserves became smaller and smaller, and North Korea, which originally did not have many types of export goods, was in pain.
Therefore, poor North Korea, which has few types of export commodities, is in a hurry, so it is better to export electricity, which is better than not having enough to eat.
In fact, in the past, North Korea did not lack electricity, and it was also a large power generator.
In order to solve the power problem, the DPRK has built hydroelectric power stations and thermal power plants, which once ensured the stable operation of the DPRK's power system.
However, after a long time, some equipment is old, and North Korea has always been the target of sanctions, and even buying maintenance equipment is a big problem.
Therefore, many power equipment has been overwhelmed, but it cannot be repaired, resulting in problems in the power generation system, and the power supply is not as good as a year.
Now that North Korea is exporting electricity to the mainland, it actually shows the wisdom of the North Korean people, who are optimistic and active in surviving despite their small size and sanctions everywhere.
silk
North Korea's fourth largest export commodity to China is silk, with an export value of 47 million yuan in 2023.
The silk industry is very important in this mysterious oriental country, and the country's top leaders often visit the factory, which shows the importance that the country attaches to this industry.
Why is this industry developing so well in this "hermit country"?
Probably because the climate and geographical location of North Korea are suitable for silkworm farming.
North Korea is located in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula in eastern Asia, the Korean Peninsula is surrounded by the sea on three sides, North Korea's climate is temperate East Asian monsoon climate, warm and rainy summer, cold and dry winter. There is a lot of rain from June to September every year.
Dandong City, Liaoning Province on the mainland and North Korea across the river, agricultural production conditions are similar to North Korea, Dandong's silkworms are world-famous, suitable for silkworm raising, so it is inferred that North Korea is also suitable for silkworm raising.
The main place for silkworm farming in North Korea is located in Guphong County, Cigang Province, North Korea, where the mountains and forests cover a large area, and only one-tenth of the cultivated area is cultivated.
According to the geographical characteristics of this county, a large number of mulberry trees are planted and sericulture is dedicated.
If 1 hectare of mulberry forest can produce 200 kilograms of silkworm cocoons, the economic benefits are equivalent to more than a dozen tons of rice, which shows its high yield.
According to the data of North Korea's import of raw silk from the mainland in the past, it can also be seen that North Korea's demand for raw silk imports from the mainland is not high, indicating that North Korea itself is not short of raw silk.
The workers of the famous Kim Jong-sook Pyongyang Silk Reeling Factory in North Korea work diligently every day to work hard for the development of light industry and socialist economic construction in North Korea.
Other goods exported to the mainland
North Korea also has some goods that have been exported to the mainland, such as coal.
North Korea is a big coal country, rich in anthracite, very popular with the mainland, the mainland has always had a great demand for coal, North Korea can get a lot of profits by exporting coal to the mainland, and the DPRK is also strengthening foreign trade in textile products.
In addition to the above-mentioned commodities, North Korea's other resources are relatively poor, because North Korea has many mountainous areas, lack of agricultural resources, and the country's heavy agricultural policy, which makes North Korea's agricultural and sideline products insufficient, and only a small amount of Korean ginseng is exported to the mainland.
In fact, North Korea's foreign trade actually faces many challenges, because in the international community, North Korea has been isolated and sanctioned, and North Korea itself has many problems, and many aspects need to be improved and adjusted.
It is hoped that in the future, China and the DPRK can carry out deeper cooperation in foreign trade, and look forward to a deeper friendship between the two countries.
Article Information Sources:
1. Analysis of the Recent Situation and Development Trend of China-DPRK Economic and Trade Cooperation, Northeast Asia Forum, No.05, 2005
2. Characteristics of North Korea's Foreign Trade under the Influence of United Nations Sanctions, Economic Geography, 2019.04
3. The mysterious North Korean silkworm industry is so tall Zhihu2021-12-01 12:03
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