Military patrol boats are stationed across river from North Korea in Dandong

Chinese military patrol boats are stationed on the Yalu River across from North Korea in Dandong, China's largest border city with North Korea, in Liaoning Province, on May 30, 2015. China remains North Korea's most important ally, providing Pyongyang with most of its food and energy supplies and comprises over sixty percent of its total trade volume. North Korea's economic dependence on China continues to grow due to international sanctions, as indicated by the significant trade imbalance between the two countries. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI