Kim’s visit to Sinuijiu is part of Kim’s “field guidance” on the cross-border region following his third trip to China last month. North Korea’s state media reported Saturday that Kim visited a reed farm at a border island of Sindo. 

Such inspection trips have raised the prospect of Pyongyang seeking to enhance cross-border economic cooperation with China, experts said, as Beijing appears to be seeking to relax the enforcement of sanctions on North Korea.

Following the historic summit between the US and North Korea in June, China has suggested that sanctions relief could be considered for North Korea. Shortly after the meeting, Chinese Foreign ministry said sanctions are “not the goal in themselves.” 

“When it comes to small-scale economic cooperation at the cross-border region, China’s enforcement of sanctions is not likely to be as strong as it has been,” said Woo Jung-yeop, research fellow at the Sejong Institute.

Japan‘s Yomiuri Shimbun reported Sunday that Kim Jong-un had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to work towards lifting economic sanctions, when they met in Beijing in June after the US-North Korea summit. 

China’s state-run media are seen as promoting the idea of expanding cross-border economic cooperation. In an article titled “Trade boom expected along China-North Korea border,” the Global Times reported last week that local businesspeople expect a trade boom along the border.

Some experts adopted a positive tone on the prospect of cross-border economic cooperation, saying China’s efforts to relax economic sanctions prompts North Korea to ramp up its denuclearization efforts. 

“It would be wrong if China lifts economic sanctions without any indication of denuclearization from North Korea… but North Korea has made a commitment for complete denuclearization and took some steps proactively,” said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. 

By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)