Russia maintained its relatively high quantities of petroleum exports to North Korea in March and April, figures published by the UN show, with reported shipments continuing to outstrip those coming from China.

The latest figures published on the UN 1718 Committee website place Russian shipments in volume terms at 3,909 tonnes in March rising to 4,706 tonnes in April.

Including Chinese shipments, North Korea received well over 5,000 tonnes each month, a relatively high number though well short of what a country with 25 million people would typically use in a month.

Shipments from China also no longer