- New economic data shows North Korea operating at a $1.7 billion trade deficit with China.
- It somehow always operates at deficit, suggesting some hidden commerce.
- North Korea is under the heaviest sanctions on earth, so its trade is fiercely monitored, but it still manages to make money.
- China may be lying about how much it trades with North Korea, or North Korea's hacking activities in the crypto markets may be paying off.
New economic data shows North Korea buying more and selling less to its biggest trade partner, China — and it likely indicates that a US-led wave of sanctions are starting to bite.