Trade between China and North Korea surged in 2022 as the countries reopened their bilateral shipping routes. The figure more than tripled from the year before, but it still remains at about 40 percent of what it was before the pandemic.

Chinese authorities said on Thursday that total shipments between the two countries were worth over one billion and 27 million dollars.

Freight train services between the nations resumed last year after being suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The increase in trade volume is believed to have been largely the result of North Korea's expanded imports.

The amount still remains far below pre-pandemic levels. It remains to be seen whether trade will fully recover as infections surge in China and North Korea continues with its restrictions.