North Korea buys station wagon from China, as food imports drive bilateral trade



News North Korea buys station wagon from China, as food imports drive bilateral trade Shipment of $38K vehicle likely violates UN sanctions, while outsourcing schemes for wigs and clothing continue Anton Sokolin \| Dave Yin June 20, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON A station wagon \| Image: Pexels North Korea imported a station wagon in May in likely violation of U.N. sanctions and purchased rice for the first time in five months, according to new Chinese customs data, while imports of food and human hair drove strong bilateral exchange. The vehicle had a price tag of $38,150 and weighed 2,040 kilograms, according to official data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) released on Friday, which described the car as seating fewer than nine people and outfitted with a 1500cc-2000cc engine. A station wagon, also known as an “estate car,” has a Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01North Korea dismantles inter-Korean reunions hotel despite Lee’s engagement push 02What Kim Jong Un is learning from Israel’s offensive as Tehran burns 03Trump lifted sanctions on Syria. But that playbook won’t work for North Korea. 04Why Kim Jong Un’s latest military reshuffle wasn’t tied to warship launch mishap 05High rollers: How North Korea could exploit casinos to finance nuclear weapons 06North Korea’s damaged warship begins repairs near port hosting Russia arms trade 07Lee Jae-myung pivoted right on North Korea. Will he stick to that as president? 08New effort to monitor North Korea sanctions is ‘shadow’ of UN Panel of Experts

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North Korea buys station wagon from China, as food imports drive bilateral trade

Shipment of $38K vehicle likely violates UN sanctions, while outsourcing schemes for wigs and clothing continue

Anton Sokolin | Dave Yin June 20, 2025

North Korea buys station wagon from China, as food imports drive bilateral trade

A station wagon | Image: Pexels

North Korea imported a station wagon in May in likely violation of U.N. sanctions and purchased rice for the first time in five months, according to new Chinese customs data, while imports of food and human hair drove strong bilateral exchange.

The vehicle had a price tag of $38,150 and weighed 2,040 kilograms, according to official data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) released on Friday, which described the car as seating fewer than nine people and outfitted with a 1500cc-2000cc engine.

A station wagon, also known as an “estate car,” has a

01North Korea dismantles inter-Korean reunions hotel despite Lee’s engagement push
02What Kim Jong Un is learning from Israel’s offensive as Tehran burns
03Trump lifted sanctions on Syria. But that playbook won’t work for North Korea.
04Why Kim Jong Un’s latest military reshuffle wasn’t tied to warship launch mishap
05High rollers: How North Korea could exploit casinos to finance nuclear weapons
06North Korea’s damaged warship begins repairs near port hosting Russia arms trade
07Lee Jae-myung pivoted right on North Korea. Will he stick to that as president?
08New effort to monitor North Korea sanctions is ‘shadow’ of UN Panel of Experts

North Korea buys station wagon from China, as food imports drive bilateral trade

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Anton Sokolin

Dave Yin