North Korean imports from China rose above $12 million in June following a sudden decline the previous month, the latest Chinese customs data shows, but the total trade volume remained a fraction of pre-pandemic figures.

China’s General Administration of Customs reported that the country’s exports to North Korea reached $12.3 million in June after declining to $2.7 million in May. North Korea’s official exports to China also rose, reaching  $1.8 million last month after dipping to $0.7 million in May. 

But a year-over-year comparison shows that total trade between North Korea and China this past June was