SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- A record number of North Koreans visited China in 2011, with the majority arriving for employment or business purposes, a U.S. radio station said Friday, citing official data.

   A total of 152,300 North Koreans visited the neighboring country last year, up 31 percent from 2010, according to the Voice of America, which quoted data from the China National Tourism Administration.

   The figure is 21 percent larger than the previous record of 125,800 set in 2005, the report said.

   About half, or 75,266 visitors, were seeking work in China's manufacturing or service industries, while another 39,042 visitors arrived for business purposes, the report said.

   Of the remainder, 4,589 were tourists and 99 traveled to see family, while 33,304 fell under the category of other purposes.

   By age group, nearly half, or 72,885 visitors, were aged between 45 and 64, followed by 64,823 people who were aged between 25 and 44.

   Ferries were the most popular means of transport for the North Koreans at 62,160 passengers, followed by 33,933 who arrived by plane, 31,829 by car, 19,132 by train and 5,246 by foot.

   The number of male visitors at 130,472 far exceeded the number of females.

   The data did not include defectors or other North Korean visitors who arrived by unofficial means, the report said.

   hague@yna.co.kr
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