North Korea’s external trade volume reached a record high of U.S. $7.34 billion dollars in 2013, Business Korea reported on Thursday, citing a report published on Wednesday by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

The figure amounts to an increase of 7.8 percent from the previous year, and is attributed to increased exports of coal, iron ore, copper and aluminium, as well as textile and clothing goods. Imports of electricity, transportation machinery and grains make up the bulk of import increases, the report added.

North Korean exports increased 11.7 percent to 3,22 billion dollars, while imports increased 5 percent to