North Korea’s trade with China saw a sharp on-month jump in August but declined from the same month last year, with an expert suggesting the general downward trend may signal stagnation in relations between Pyongyang and Beijing.

Commercial exchanges between the two countries topped $177 million last month, up from $145 million in July, while remaining below the $191 million recorded in Aug. 2023, China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) reported on Wednesday.