NORTH KOREA'S FOREIGN TRADE

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP70B00338R000200010052-8
Release Decision: 
RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
10
Document Creation Date: 
December 9, 2016
Document Release Date: 
June 8, 2001
Sequence Number: 
52
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
January 26, 1968
Content Type: 
IM
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PDF icon CIA-RDP70B00338R000200010052-8.pdf290.86 KB
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Approved For Release 2001/08/27 : CIA-RDP70B00338R000200010052-8 Secret DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE Intelligence Memorandum North Korea's Foreign Trade Secret Copy No. ER IM 68-10 January 1968 Approved For Release 2001/08/27 : CIA-RDP70B00338R000200010052-8 Approved For Release 2001/08/27 : CIA-RDP70B00338R000200010052-8 WARNING This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States, within the meaning of Title 18, sections 793 and 794, of the US Code, as amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents to or re- ceipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited by law. GROUP I EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING AND DECI.AANIFICATION Approved For Release 2001/08/27 : CIA-RDP70B00338R000200010052-8 Approved For Release 2001/01622ifDP70B00338R000200010052-8 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Directorate of Intelligence 26 January 1968 INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM North Korea's Foreign Trade Summary North Korea's foreign trade is oriented strongly to other Communist countries. During 1966, these countries accounted for 87 percent of total trade of about $445 million, and the USSR and Communist China in combination made up 75 percent of the total. Almost one-half of North Korea's non- Communist trade with Free World countries was with Japan. With the exception of trade in bulk commodities almost all trade with the USSR and Communist China moves by overland transport routes. North Korean trade with other countries, including all Free World nations moves entirely by sea. Note: This memorandum was produced by CIA. It was prepared by the Office of Economic Research. This memorandum is a preliminary analysis of North Korean trade data. A more detailed study will be published on the completion of further analysis of trade and shipping data. Approved For Release 2001/0 riRDP70B00338R000200010052-8 Approved For Release 2001 IO* 2PbFA DP70B00338R000200010052-8 1. North Korea's foreign trade, most of which is with other Communist countries, has been of great importance to the development of the economy. The value of North Korea's foreign trade in 1966 was about $445 million, compared with $429 million in 1965. Imports had consistently exceeded exports, until in 1966 when North Korea achieved an export surplus with both the Free World and the Communist countries. 2. Exports, which have increased steadily since 1964, totaled about $236 million in 1966, an increase of 13 percent, and imports totaled $208 million, a decline of 5 percent, as shown in the following tabulation: Million US $ Total Imports Exports Total Total a/ 429 220 209 445 Free World 57 34 23 59 Communist 373 187 186 386 Imports Exports 208 236 26 33 183 203 a. Because of rounding, components may not add to the totals shown. 3. North Korea is dependent on imports of coking coal, petroleum products, rubber, chemicals (especially fertilizers), and a wide range of machinery and equipment, including complete plant installations. Also, wheat and sugar have been imported in recent years. North Korea's exports are chiefly ferrous and nonferrous metals and minerals. Other important export commodities include rice, fish, and chemicals. Trade with Communist Countries 4. About 87 percent of North Korea's trade in 1966 was with other Communist countries. This share has been relatively constant since 1964. Approved For Release 20011,bMtiR$tDP70B00338R000200010052-8 Approved For Release 200 1-1 i -RDP70B00338R000200010052-8 The Soviet Union and Communist China, the principal trading partners, together accounted for about three-fourths of North Korea's total trade in 1966. In 1966, as in the past, machinery, equipment, and petroleum products accounted for about one-half of North Korea's imports from the Soviet Union. The remaining imports from the Soviet Union consisted mostly of wheat, cotton, steel, chemicals, and wood products. North Korea's most important import from Communist China was coking coal, followed by minerals, ferrous metals, steel products, rubber, chemicals, cotton, and sugar. Imports from the Eastern European Communist countries consist mainly of machinery and equipment and chemical products. Trade with the Free World 5. North Korea's trade with the Free World has been expanding steadily since 1962, but is still less than 15 percent of total trade. Japan is North Korea's largest non-Communist trading partner, accounting for almost one-half of North Korea's trade with the Free World in 1966. Japan is the major Free World customer for North Korean exports of ores and semimanufactures of iron, zinc, and lead. North Korea imports machinery, equipment, and chemicals from Japan and Western Europe. Wheat is also imported from France, Greece, Australia, and Argentina. 6. The largest share of North Korea's trade with the USSR and Communist China moves overland, although trade in bulk commodities such as ore and cement moves by sea. North Korean trade with all Free World countries and with Communist countries other than the USSR and Communist China moves entirely by sea. Analysis of calls by merchant ships at North Korean ports in 1967 reveals that Japanese ships made 34 percent of the calls, Soviet ships 33 percent, Polish and British ships 8 percent each, Greek ships 5 percent, and an assortment of Free World and Communist ships the remaining 12 percent. 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