Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles exploring economic activity along North Korea’s northern border as the country eases pandemic restrictions. Part two about the Sambong-Kaishantun crossing can be found here.

North Korea likely began to jointly operate a medical mask factory in China during the pandemic, an NK Pro investigation has found, in what appears to be another case of DPRK-China sanctions violations approved by their respective governments. 

The factory is located in a Chinese economic zone across from Musan in northeast North Korea, an area that has