Trade between North Korea and Russia soared more than 85 percent in the first quarter of the year on-year owing largely to Russia's export increase despite the UN trade ban against the North's nuclear and missile provocations, a US broadcaster said Tuesday.

The bilateral trade recorded $31.83 million between during the January-March period, up 85.3 percent from a year before, Voice of America said, citing data from Russian federal customs authorities.

Russia shipped a total of $31 million worth of products to the North, with coal at the top with $22 million, or some 71 percent of the total, according to VOA. Lignite came next with $4.7 million, followed by oil with $1.2 million.

On the other hand, Russia's imports from the North dived 88 percent to $420,000 during the three-month period, it said.

Major import items were chemical products ($150,000) and wind instruments ($110,000), it added. (Yonhap)