Russian exports to North Korea sank to this year’s lowest reported value yet in September, but the value of North Korean exports to Moscow is up by 204% compared to August, according to the latest data from Russia’s Federal Customs Service.

The volatile rises and dips come amid North Korea’s ongoing border lockdown, which has been in place since Jan. 2020 for travel and since August for trade. North Korea largely closed out foreign imports this summer to protect the country from COVID-19 ahead of its politically-important Oct. 10 military parade.

But even though official