North Korean imports of Russian refined petroleum increased sharply in August after falling to yearly lows the previous month, data provided to the UN by Moscow shows.

According to Russia’s numbers, the DPRK imported 2,611 tonnes of refined products from its neighbor in August, over triple the much smaller 800-tonne import the previous month.

Russia’s export pattern so far this year is similar to 2018, when petroleum shipments dipped in July, only to start increasing again the following month, peaking over the winter period.

Comparisons with Chinese exports over the same