China’s trade with North Korea almost doubles

While various sanctions have reduced North Korea's foreign investment to a dribble, China has doubled down on the pariah state.

In 2011's first seven months, China's North Korea trade shot up 87 percent compared to last year's figure, according to the China Post.

This revelation comes from none other than Li Keqiang, the Chinese vice premier and a likely candidate to take over the premiership in coming years. He is currently visiting North Korea.

While other countries have pulled back on North Korea, China has stepped in.

As a Global Post report from last year notes, "China remains North Korea’s lifeline, its primary trade partner and link to the rest of the world."

Still, while emerging power is putting more money into North Korea, China has shown far more faith in the robust economy of South Korea, Pyongyang's rival. China's South Korea trade is expected to hit $250 billion this year, according to the Associated Press.

And that's a measly 1 percent of China's trade with North Korea.