A new report finds that the volume of inter-Korean trade grew more than six percent in the first quarter compared with the same period last year.

The report issued by the Korea International Trade Association says that inter-Korean trade for the first quarter stood at 278 million U.S. dollars, up six-point-seven percent from the same period last year.

The volume of commercial transactions climbed nearly 40 percent but non-commercial deals slipped 77 percent following a drop in aid from South Korea’s government and private sector to the North.

The South imported 158 million dollars worth of goods from the North in the first quarter, up 64 percent from last year's first quarter.

Exports, meanwhile, declined 27 percent, amounting to 119 million dollars.