Battered by the coronavirus pandemic and UN sanctions North Korea resumes freight train service with China South Korean officials announced the reopening which comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last month ordered the easing of the restrictions guarding against the spread of the coronavirus South Korea's unification ministry says it's not known how long the train service would last and what goods would be transferred China is the Norris economic pipeline and last major diplomatic ally More than 90% of North Korea's external trade has been with China The nosedive and trade between the two countries during the pandemic was believed to have caused to further strain on the north's fragile economy