China made good on its pledge to support a key provision of United Nations sanctions over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, banning imports of coal, iron ore and other commodities from its reclusive neighbour.
Advertisement
The assessment came hours after a report published by a USA research institute said that recent satellite images have shown “suspicious” activity at North Korea’s main nuclear site at Yongbyon, which could mean reprocessing is under way to produce more plutonium for atomic bombs.
North Korea has repeatedly threatened to carry out nuclear strikes on Seoul and Washington D.C., and also warned that they will test a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles that are capable of carrying it.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) speaks during a visit to the Sinhung Machine Plant in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang April 1, 2016.
North Korea conducted a nuclear test and long-range rocket launch earlier this year.
“The military urges North Korea to refrain from taking rash actions threatening South Korea”, the ministry said in a statement quoted by Yonhap News Agency.
Kim said China will submit a report about its implementation of the new sanctions on North Korea within 90 days of the sanctions being adopted. The council called on all countries to “redouble their efforts” to enforce the sanctions.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said some imports for civilian use will be allowed so long as they are not connected to nuclear or missile programs.
Over the past month, Pyongyang has issued a number of threats against Seoul and Washington, largely in response to annual South Korea-US war games which kicked off in March.
Experts believe that the latest ban imposed by the Chinese government will certainly have an impact on North Korea.
In January, North Korea announced what it said was a successful test of a hydrogen weapon, and more recently claimed that it had miniaturized warheads.
North Korea has claimed for months that it has developed a nuclear warhead small enough to be packaged in its ballistic missiles.
North Korea delivered around 20 million tonnes of coal to China last year, up 27 per cent on the year before, overtaking Russian Federation and Mongolia to become China’s third biggest supplier, behind Australia and Indonesia.
Advertisement
-South Korea joint military exercises, in terms of their scope and aim, are threatening world peace and security while violently violating our right to self-defense stated in the United Nations.
