North Korean imports of fuel products from China all rose in March, though not to levels that might imply the DPRK was stockpiling ahead of a reported shortage in Pyongyang.

Figures from China’s customs agency compiled by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) show the DPRK’s imports of Chinese gasoline, diesel, other fuels and even kerosene rose in the third month of the year.

The increases reverse a general trend of low imports beginning in January, with gasoline imports seeing a six-fold jump and diesel shipments increasingly sharply from $24,000 to over $3 million.[/p