North Korea has made a concerted effort to increase imports of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment from China in recent years, a trend that underscores emerging opportunities to engage Pyongyang.

Despite international sanctions and COVID-19 restrictions, the DPRK has ramped up medical imports since 2017. A surge in 2021, in particular, saw these imports as a percentage of its overall trade with China increase sevenfold from 2015 — likely reflecting escalating medical needs or the government’s shifting priorities.

North Korea has shunned health assistance for most of the pandemic, but the country is now beginning to open back up