North Korean imports of Chinese rice and cereals remained high in August, figures from Beijing’s General Administration of Customs show, as the country grapples with lower crop yields stemming from a severe drought in the summer months.

The trade figures, compiled by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), show North Korea imported more than USD$7 million worth of cereal products from China in August. The numbers were down USD$3 million from July, though still significantly above imports during the same month last year.

North Korea has recently reversed a trend of falling food imports