North Korea’s oil imports appeared to hold steady in the first quarter of 2022 while coal depots saw less traffic, NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery reveals, a finding experts suggest is due to freezing of the Taedong River in the frigid winter months.

Low-resolution satellite images taken between January and March show at least 17 ships docked at North Korea’s main oil terminal in Nampho. Though slightly less than the 21 ships observed in the fourth quarter of 2021, the figure is higher than the same period last year, when only four ships were visible at the same