BBC "Russia to supply 1 million barrels of oil to North Korea from March"

Russia is estimated to have supplied more than 1 million barrels of oil to North Korea since March, the BBC reported, citing satellite photo analysis data from the private research group Open Source Center.

Satellite images show that dozens of North Korean tankers have traveled 43 times to and from the port of Vostocini near Vladivostok, Russia, and left empty and loaded with cargo.

The first oil shipment took place on March 7, seven months after North Korea's alleged support of Russian weapons, and the last time it was captured was on the 5th, the BBC said.

The steady flow of oil from Russia has enabled North Korea to overcome the instability that has continued since the implementation of sanctions against the country, the Open Source Center noted.

North Korea is estimated to require 9 million barrels of oil annually, but the U.N. sanctions limit its annual oil imports to 500,000 barrels.

Russia's foreign ministry declined a request for coverage, the BBC added.