By Kim Se-jeong
The North Korean military and ruling party are known to encourage small-scale border trade with China in what appears to be an effort to secure foreign currency.
Quoting an anonymous North Korean trade source, Radio Free Asia reported Wednesday that the number of trading companies near the border with China has rapidly increased.
"Since last November, I was told to open up a trading company. After the currency reform last year, the companies that had ceased to operate, were again allowed to trade independently with China," the anonymous source was quoted as saying.
International economic sanctions imposed on North Korea have shrunk its international trade activities.
With China, North Korea's closet ally and an economic partner, however, the sanctions haven't had much impact on trade volume.
Trade companies in Korea are born and vanish under the control of the military and the party.
The exact number of trading companies in operation is unknown, but it's believed to be several.
People, who work for trading companies, are allowed to travel freely outside the nation, a privilege in a society where even traveling inside the country requires a permit.