The cumulative impact of sanctions are having a mixed impact on a range of indicators both inside and around North Korea, sources told NK Pro in late January and February.

However, despite the number of sector-level United Nations sanctions reaching sharp new peaks in late 2017, it appears that much of the North Korean economy appears to be insulated – for now – from the most destabilizing of potential sanctions effects.

Of most significance, however, are reports surrounding border areas in China – especially Dandong, apparently due to Beijing’s increasingly tough implementation of recent UN resolutions.