[Iclickart]
SEOUL, Feb. 08 (Aju News) -- Exports of North Korean mineral resources, a key source of hard currency for the impoverished country, posted a sharp drop last year due to tough U.N. sanctions, industrial data showed Thursday.
According to the state-funded Korea Resources Corporation (KORES), North Korea's mineral exports to China fell 56 percent on-year to 640 million US dollars last year. In 2017, North Korean coal exports to China fell 66 percent on-year to $430 million.
China has restricted imports of coal, minerals and fishery products from its long-time ally as part of measures to implement a U.N. resolution. North Korean exports of coal to China cannot exceed $400 million or 7.5 million tons.
The shipment of North Korean zinc and copper to China was almost suspended, while iron ore exports were up 39 percent on-year to $103 million in 2017, reflecting the North's brisk iron ore trade across the border until September. KORES predicted that North Korea's mineral exports would dip further this year due to strengthened U.N. sanctions imposed in December last year.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
