North Korea has stepped up oil imports from Russia with a growing fleet of tankers plying the country’s far eastern ports and terminals, NK News can reveal after a two-month investigation into the DPRK’s vessel movements and oil trading activities.

The growing trade with Russia comes amid continuing reports that China has cut-off crude oil deliveries to North Korea.

However, NK News has also found at least one North Korean crude oil tanker still regularly visiting Chinese terminals, indicating that trade is ongoing despite the absence of crude deliveries in official Chinese trade