Recent analysis suggests that North Korea imported 2.1 million USD worth of medical equipment from China as it prepares to open a new hospital.
According to NK News, a U.S.-based media outlet focusing on North Korean affairs, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals ranked fifth among the top 10 items imported from China in October, according to data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC).
While this figure decreased from 2.4 million USD in September to 2.1 million USD in October, the imports specifically included nine general X-ray machines (valued at approximately 280,000 USD), three dental X-ray machines (approximately 1,400 USD), and three CT scanners (approximately 485,000 USD).
NK News reported that this CT equipment purchase came just months after North Korea imported a diagnostic machine valued at over 196,200 USD in January.
The new equipment is likely destined for the recently completed Kangdong County Hospital, which opened on Wednesday. North Korean state media released photos of the hospital’s interior, showcasing X-ray and CT equipment. Earlier this month, Pyongyang General Hospital also opened its doors. While the published photos didn’t show an MRI machine, they did feature a CT scanner.
The analysis also noted that among the top ten import items, crops ranked first, followed by wigs, soybean oil, and furniture. All of these categories saw a decrease in import volume compared to the previous month.
The total import value of crops in October fell from 24 million USD to 22 million USD. Wig imports decreased from 15 million USD to 12.5 million USD, while soybean oil imports dropped from 16.4 million USD to 9.1 million USD.
In contrast, rice imports from China increased from 1,027 tons (approximately 534,000 USD) in September to 1,553 tons (approximately 782,000 USD) in October.
The GAC (General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China) data also revealed that North Korea imported luxury sports goods from China, items that are subject to international sanctions. Additionally, North Korea exported approximately 80,000 USD worth of seafood, including coral and mollusk shells, and 76,188 USD worth of cast iron to China.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2371 explicitly prohibits North Korea from exporting iron, steel, and seafood. However, reports suggest that North Korea has continued to export metals and seafood to China despite these restrictions.