North Korea’s trade with China dipped at the start of the second half of the year as its imports continued falling for a third consecutive month, while exports nudged up and reversed a downward trend.

Pyongyang’s commercial exchanges with Beijing dropped to $229.4 million in July from nearly $252 million in June, continuing a three-month downward slide, new data released by China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) showed on Tuesday.

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While July’s volume remained above last year’s level, it neared the $229 million and $230 million recorded in June and July