[THE INVESTOR] Chinese jet fuel exports to North Korea rocketed up nearly 400 percent in September from a year earlier, data showed on Oct. 26.

China exported jet fuel worth US$9.7 million to North Korea last month, up 391 percent from a year earlier, according to data compiled by the Beijing office of Korea International Trade Association.

Chinese exports of jet fuel to North Korea fell 13.1 percent on-year to $31.65 million in the first nine months of this year.

The latest UN sanctions resolution, adopted in March after the North’s fourth nuclear test earlier this year, requires UN member states to prevent their nationals from supplying jet fuel to North Korea.

Still, the provision will not apply if there are verified essential humanitarian needs or for civilian passenger aircraft outside North Korea exclusively for consumption during its flight to Pyongyang and its return flight.

The data also showed that Chinese exports to North Korea came to $285 million in September, up 5.5 percent from a year earlier.

Meanwhile, Chinese imports from North Korea stood at $228 million in September, down 6.9 percent from a year earlier.

China accounts for nearly 90 percent of North Korea’s foreign trade, and mineral resources are a key part of their bilateral trade.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)