China restricts trade with North Korea over nuclear tests

In this March 14, 2016 photo, a North Korean soldier walks past a truck park near the goods pile up on a dockyard in Sinuiju, North Korea, as seen from Dandong in northeastern China’s Liaoning province. China on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 imposed restrictions on imports of coal from North Korea and exports of jet fuel to the North in a potentially significant increase in pressure on Pyongyang following U.N. sanctions over its nuclear and missile tests. AP

BEIJING — China has banned most imports of North Korean coal and iron ore, the country’s main exports, in a significant increase in pressure on the North under UN sanctions against its nuclear and missile tests.

China buys an estimated two-thirds of impoverished North Korea’s exports, making Beijing’s cooperation essential for trade penalties approved by the UN Security Council last month to succeed.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has intensified nuclear activities in defiance of UN sanctions, conducting his country’s fourth nuclear test in January and test-firing missiles.

READ: China reaffirms its commitment to North Korea sanctions

In a sign of frustration with its ally, China signed onto Security Council sanctions last month that include mandatory inspections of cargo bound to and from North Korea. The council called on all countries to “redouble their efforts” to enforce the sanctions.

The latest Chinese restrictions announced Tuesday ban most imports of North Korean coal, iron ore, gold, titanium, vanadium and rare earths — a key revenue source for the mineral-rich North. The CIA estimated North Korea’s 2013 exports at $4.4 billion, with 65 percent of that going to China and the bulk of it made up of mineral sales.

Some imports for civilian use will be allowed so long as they are not connected to nuclear or missile programs, the Ministry of Commerce said. It gave no indication how large such purchases might be.

The announcement also banned sales of jet fuel to North Korea, but said civilian aircraft would be allowed to refuel during flights to China.

President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, promised to cooperate to promote denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula during a nuclear security conference last week in Washington.

In a statement Wednesday, the US government welcomed Beijing’s trade restrictions as part of efforts to enforce UN sanctions.

“We will continue to urge China to do more until we see concrete signs that Kim Jong Un has come to the realization that the only viable path forward for his country is denuclearization,” said the statement released by the American Embassy in Beijing.

Beijing balked at previous demands by Washington and other governments to use trade as leverage against North Korea. Chinese diplomats said the potential humanitarian impact of sanctions had to be considered.

Beijing is North Korea’s only major ally and aid donor but says its influence over Kim’s government is limited.

READ: China expresses regret over North Korea rocket launch

Chinese leaders are reluctant to lean too hard on North Korea for fear the collapse of Kim’s government could set off a flood of refugees and possibly lead to US and South Korean troops being stationed in the North near China’s border.

In February, a Chinese diplomat told reporters the United States should offer North Korea incentives to return to negotiations, such as progress on a peace agreement. The two countries are still technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.

Despite such reservations, Beijing went along with the Security Council sanctions last month that also restrict operations of North Korean banks and ban trade in dual-use nuclear and missile-related items. China is one of five permanent Security Council members with power to veto UN action.

Security Council resolutions prohibit nuclear weapons development by North Korea and all ballistic missile activity.

A defiant North Korea carried out a nuclear bomb test in January and called it a “H-bomb of justice.” It launched a long-range rocket in February, and in March fired a missile that flew about 800 kilometers (500 miles) before crashing into the sea off the country’s east coast.

Kim has ordered tests of a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying it. Last month’s missile launch came during annual South Korean-US military drills which North Korea has criticized as a rehearsal for an invasion.