China's imports from North Korea plummet to lowest level in four years
Figures for December lowest since January 2014 amid sanctions aimed at halting Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme
China’s imports from North Korea plunged in December to the lowest level in dollar terms since at least the start of 2014, with trade curbed by UN sanctions aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes.
Imports from North Korea slumped 81.6 per cent year-on-year to US$54.34 million, Huang Songping, Chinese customs spokesman, said during a briefing in Beijing on Friday. That is the smallest monthly value since at least January 2014.
Chinese customs will formally release data for trade with North Korea in the second half of the month, along with a breakdown by product.
The United Nations began imposing sanctions on North Korea in 2006, but tougher measures were invoked in 2017 as tensions flared anew over the country’s nuclear and missile programmes.
The penalties that came into force on September 5 last year banned countries from buying coal, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood from North Korea.
