The price of diesel in the hermit state has fallen by 60 per cent since the start of November, while petrol has fallen by around 25 per cent.
Local media has suggested that the extortionate fall in price is due to Russian oil imports into the country, despite efforts by the international community to cut off fuel provision to the corrupt country.
Lisa Collins, from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said: “There are a lot of trade channels that exist between China and North Korea, some licit and some illicit, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Russia were taking advantage of those.”
While US President Donald Trump has taken a hard line on Kim Jong-un’s rogue regime since their illegal missile tests, the Russian Government has been more understanding of the DPRK’s actions.
North Korea has launched a number of ballistic missile tests over recent months and has threatened to target the US territory of Guam with a nuclear weapon, leading to international condemnation.
However, Vladimir Putin has suggested that Kim Jong-un’s actions have been encouraged by the US’s aggressive rhetoric towards the state.
The price of fuel skyrocketed after the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution in September banning exports of condensates and natural gas liquids to North Korea and caping the annual supply of petrol.
However speaking to Newsweek Ms Collins said Russia had ignored the resolution: “We do know that Russia has given North Korea some oil in the past, and I believe that there were some reports that North Korea was using ships to get around the Security Council sanctions that would hide the origin of the oil.”
It has been suggested that Russia’s disregard of the international order is Putin’s way of rejecting Trump’s approach to dealing with the North Korea problem.
James Brown, a Russian expert focusing on energy politics at Temple University, believes the oil trade between Russia and Kim Jong-un’s hermit state could be an attempt to open up diplomatic channels.
He said: “The Russian authorities are generally against the U.S.’s policy of maximum pressure on North Korea, believing that the policy has caused Pyongyang to accelerate their nuclear and missile program.
“Instead of further sanctions, Moscow favours immediate dialogue with North Korea.”
Following North Korea’s declaration last week that it now has nuclear capability to target the whole of the US, Russia’s Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said Russia was considering how to respond.
Mr Patrushev admitted that Pyongyang’s actions had put Russia at risk due to the potential of an outbreak of war.
He said: “If there is military action – and you know some countries do not rule it out – this would create all sorts of problems, including for us.”
Russian state media has since reported the Kremlin wants to take a lead role in pressuring North Korea to imply with international sanctions.