BEIJING, Aug 18 (Reuters) - China’s exports to North Korea rose for the second straight month in July, but were only still a fraction of their pre-COVID levels, data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Wednesday. Chinese shipments to North Korea rose to $16.8 million in July from $12.3 million in June, Chinese customs data showed. Shipments totalled $207.7 million in July 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted trade. Early last year, the reclusive country banned almost all cross-border travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic and some countries including Britain, France and Germany withdrew their local representatives. China imported $4.12 million of North Korean goods in July compared with $1.82 million in June, latest data showed. Reporting by Stella Qiu and Gabriel Crossley; Editing by Jacqueline Wong Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.