North Korea’s oil tankers continued to use Chinese facilities in May and June, despite reports indicating the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has suspended sales of fuel products to the DPRK.

A Reuters report published at the end of last month said the decision to halt sales had been made over the last two months, citing the increased risks of doing business with the DPRK.

But tankers bearing the North’s flag appeared to continue to sail out from the DPRK’s eastern coastline, heading to numerous ports across China’s northeastern regions.[/p