A labor agent sat in his bus on a recent frigid morning, waiting to cross the "Friendship Bridge" at China's main border post with North Korea. He had come to pick up migrant workers and take them to jobs in factories and restaurants in China.
The single-lane bridge in the border city of Dandong is the main gateway for international trade into isolated and heavily sanctioned North Korea and it has grown unusually quiet of late, traders and businessmen in the city of 2.5 million people say.
"I used to bring at least 40-50 North Korean factory workers and waiters across at least once a month but it's less frequent now," said Liu, the labor agent, who did not want to give his full name. "I don't think China wants them to come and work here anymore."