Meanwhile, China's trade with the DPRK totaled $388 million in November but remained around its lowest levels this year. That came as tough sanctions continue to slow business with China's isolated neighbor.

Total trade was far lower than the $613.2 million from last year. Trade between the two countries slowed after China banned coal purchases in February. The pace of the drop has quickened as the new curbs hurt Pyongyang's ability to sell critical commodities. The U.N. estimated the latest ban, imposed after its two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July, would cut the DPRK's $3 billion in annual export revenues by a third. They imposed new sanctions aimed at limiting the country's access to refined petroleum products and crude oil as well as its earnings from workers abroad.