From the China Daily:

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is emerging as a hotbed for China's increasing investments overseas.

"DPRK provides big market potential for Chinese products ... while Chinese investors have tremendous advantages in tapping the market," said Tian Hairui, a senior manager with Beijing Chaohua Youlian (CHYL) Cultural Exchange Co Ltd...

...A growing number of Chinese companies have invested in DPRK in the past two years, since the socialist country adopted its market-oriented reform and opening policies.

Last month, Shenyang Zhongxu Group, a trading firm operated by Wenzhou-based merchants, signed a contract with DPRK's authorities to operate the No 1 Department Store of Pyongyang.

The deal cost an estimated 50 million yuan (US$6.04 million).

That has been the single largest foreign investment in DPRK from a country outside the Korean Peninsula...

... Li Yongqi, an official in Changbai, a small county in Jilin Province, told China Business Weekly many people in the county have opened small wood-processing workshops in DPRK.

It is difficult to estimate the total investments in DPRK by Chinese entrepreneurs, because many Chinese investors do not register their businesses in China to avoid foreign currency ratification.

But the nations' bilateral trade volume last year topped US$1 billion, up 38.7 per cent over the previous year.

The China Daily article, faddishly entitled DPRK biz opportunities luring entrepreneurs, is here.