At least 10 North Korean delegations have visited China to tour companies and attend technical training courses since mid-September, an NK Pro investigation has found, a surge of activity that suggests Pyongyang is welcoming Beijing’s help to achieve economic goals under its new five-year plan.

Across these visits, North Korean agricultural researchers studied fruit preservation in Shandong, construction workers trained in Shanghai and coal officials toured a smart-mining firm in Shaanxi.

Other delegations explored energy storage, cement production, the auto parts sector and cross-border e-commerce with Chinese companies. 

At least four of the