China affirms commitment to UN sanctions against the DPRK

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Jul 2023 09:15

The spokesperson of the Chinese envoy calls on the other parties to fully implement UNSC resolutions on the DPRK, particularly provisions related to resuming dialogue, strengthening diplomatic efforts, and promoting a political settlement.

Chinese President Xi Jinping with DPRK leader Kim il Jong, 2018 (AFP)

In response to a joint letter from G7 nations, the European Union, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand urging China to expel oil tankers engaged in fuel trade with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Beijing has insisted that it is strictly implementing UN sanctions resolutions.

The letter, addressed to Beijing's UN envoy Zhang Jun, expressed concerns about the "continuing presence of multiple oil tankers" using Chinese waters to facilitate the trade of sanctioned petroleum products to the DPRK, AFP reported citing the letter.

The letter references observations made by the UN experts in charge of monitoring the DPRK's compliance with UN-sponsored sanctions.

In response to the letter, China asserted its commitment to fulfilling its international obligations and strictly adhering to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

The Chinese spokesperson went further calling on the other parties to fully implement UNSC resolutions on the DPRK, particularly provisions related to resuming dialogue, strengthening diplomatic efforts, and promoting a political settlement.

The DPRK has been under UN sanctions since 2006 due to its ballistic missile launches and nuclear programs. In 2017, additional sanctions were imposed to limit its crude oil imports. However, the UNSC has struggled to reach a united position since then, and in May 2022, China and Russia vetoed a resolution proposing new sanctions on Pyongyang. Subsequently, despite several ballistic missile tests conducted by North Korea, no Council resolution or statement has been adopted.

On July 19, it was reported that the DPRK launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea hours after a senior US official confirmed that a US nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) is in South Korea. On July 22, DPRK then launched multiple cruise missiles toward the Sea of Japan.