Pyongyang declared victory over the coronavirus last week, ending an in-detail battle against “fever cases” that had risen to 4.77 million in the country of about 26 million people. It has not registered any new such cases since July 29.
Still, China exported 1.23 million face masks to North Korea in July, worth $44,307, up from 17,000 the previous month, according to data released by Chinese customs over the weekend.
From January to July, the last month for which data is available, the North purchased more than 11.93 million masks from China, data shows.
North Korea did not import Covid-19 prevention and control products from China in May, the data shows.
China’s total exports to North Korea rose to $59.74 million in July, from $19.05 million in June.
The main exports were semi-milled or milled rice, cigarettes, disodium carbonate and smoked sheets of natural rubber.
North Korea bought $5.16 million of semi-milled or milled rice, $1.98 million of soybean oil and fractions and $1.21 million of granulated sugar in July, according to Chinese customs data.
China has suspended cross-border freight train services with North Korea after consultations over Covid-19 infections in the border city of Dandong, China’s foreign ministry said on April 29.