Anchor: Russia's oil exports to North Korea have sharply increased this year compared to 2016. Amid global sanctions, the North is believed to be diversifying its import channel of oil toward Russia.
Our Kim Soyon tells us more.
 
Report: According to the latest Russian customs data, Russia shipped over 31 million dollars’ worth of exports to North Korea in the first quarter. 

That's up more than 134 percent from the same period last year. Over 90 percent of the shipments were mineral resources.
 
Petroleum products, such as heavy oil, motor oil and lubricants, accounted for more than one-and-a quarter million dollars. That's a rise of more than 200 percent year-on-year.
 
These type of oil products are not subject to UN Security Council sanctions on North Korea which only apply to aviation gasoline and jet fuel.
 
Experts said that as continuing punitive measures hinders the supply of oil to the regime, Pyongyang is turning to Russia for its oil supply. 
 
Meanwhile, the U.S. is expected to call a vote on a new UN Security Council sanctions resolution on North Korea within weeks.
 
The draft resolution is known to include extremely strong sanctions such as cutting crude oil supply to the North.
 
However, Russia and China are negative about imposing additional sanctions on Pyongyang and argue the Korean Peninsula issue should be resolved through dialogue and negotiations.
Kim Soyon, KBS World Radio News. 

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