Trade between North Korea and China has fallen off dramatically over the past year.
According to Voice of America on Tuesday, the total trade volume between the two countries during the January to November period of last year was four.nine billion U.S. dollars, a 15-percent drop compared to the same period the year before.
China's exports and imports to North Korea decreased by 17 percent and 13 percent during the period.
North Korea's exports of iron ore to China fell 68 percent, while shipments of anthracite, a major export item, fell six.three percent.
Experts believe the decline is due to the deterioration in relations between the two countries