Chinese goods flow back into Hyesan as customs ends holiday shutdown
The Hyesan customs office in North Korea’s Ryanggang province reopened on Oct. 12, 2026, after a closure tied to China’s National Day holiday. Autumn clothing, winter apparel samples and electrical goods are once again flowing across the border from China. The reopening has also brought relief to Hyesan’s handcart porters, many of whom lost their […]
The Hyesan customs office in North Korea's Ryanggang province resumed operations on October 12, 2026, following a closure linked to China's National Day holiday. Various goods, such as autumn clothing, winter clothing samples, and electrical appliances, are once again crossing the border from China. The reopening has provided relief to Hyesan's handcart porters, many of whom lost their daily earnings during the shutdown.
Custom traders can survive about ten days without customs operating, but most porters live hand to mouth, so their income disappears when traders stop working. This reopening highlights how significantly North Korea's economy relies on official customs trade.
Written by urgent.news from Daily NK's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
