China's imports from North Korea have dropped sharply due to Beijing's ban on coal imports from its ally.

According to data released online by China's General Administration of Customs on Saturday, imports from North Korea stood at 124 million dollars in May, down 31-point-six percent from the same period last year. 

The figure is the third lowest since June 2014, when the Chinese customs agency began disclosing trade statistics. It's also the third consecutive drop in imports from North Korea.

China said it would ban coal imports from the North from February 18th until the end of this year in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution adopted following North Korea's fifth nuclear test last September. 

[Photo : ]