PYONGYANG: Petrol prices are being pumped higher in Pyongyang in the wake of United Nations sanctions restricting exports of oil products to nuclear-armed North Korea. Under leader Kim Jong-Un, North Korea has made rapid progress in its weapons programs, and it launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in July that appeared to bring much of the US mainland into range. North Korea has few hydrocarbons of its own. But according to the US mission to the United Nations, Beijing provides Pyongyang with around 4 million barrels a year of crude oil, and 4.5 million barrels of refined oil products such as petrol and diesel. In North Korea petrol is sold by the kilogram rather than the liter, and payment in hard currency is required for retail buyers.

Source: Manila Times September 23, 2017 09:33 UTC