Shipments of plastics and raw materials likely for use in wigs helped drive a slight increase in North Korean imports from China in July, while the DPRK exported $1.5 million in sanctioned iron and steel.

Official trade data from China’s General Administration of Customs reported that the overall trade between the two countries slowed for the fourth month in a row, declining from $184.2 million in June to $181.6 million in July.

North Korea’s exports to China slid down to $25 million last month from $29.5 million in June but remained far higher than the $12.98 million registered last July,