Trade between China and North Korea fell on-year in May for the fifth consecutive month, a trend that one expert said could be a sign that Russia is playing a bigger role in the DPRK’s economy. 

Total trade volume between the DPRK and its largest commercial partner reached $181.3 million last month, down from $194 million in April, new data released by China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) shows.

The number is also lower than the same month last year, when bilateral trade stood at $189.6 million. Every month this year has seen a lower volume of bilateral trade