The Singaporean government suspended trading commercial goods with North Korea in early November, a circular issued by the country’s customs service has shown.

Commercial trade will be blocked “regardless of whether they are imported, exported, transhipped or brought in transit through Singapore.”

“We wish to inform you that with effect from 8 Nov 2017, Singapore will prohibit all commercially traded goods (exchanged for money or barter traded) from or to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),” Singapore Customs said in the circular.

The circular was sent to traders and declaring agents on November 7.

Customs, however, said Singaporeans were