China is resuming and expanding economic cooperation with North Korea in spite of increasing global sanctions and pressure against Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs.

Most recently, China has permitted chartered plane operations between Dandong and Pyongyang, while also showing signs of activating a bilateral duty-free trade zone in the city of Dandong.

The two nations opened the zone in the border area in October 2015, but it remained inactive since Beijing joined the UN Security Council’s sanctions against the North’s nuclear test and missile launches.

However, it was revealed Monday that a councilor at the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang paid a visit to the zone last Friday in a rare move that has attracted attention. 

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