- Title: China to punish those involved in N.Korea sanctions breaches if found
- Date: 29th September 2016
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 29, 2016) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GENG SHUANG, WALKING IN FOR REGULAR BRIEFING MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GENG SHUANG, SAYING: "At present, mineral products trade between China and North Korea, such as coal mine trade, are all in line with the relevant resolutions and are also in line with the relevant Chinese laws. The origin and the core of the North Korea nuclear issue is not from China, the nature of the North Korea nuclear issue is the dispute between North Korea and the United States. The U.S. should take its due responsibility and play a constructive role in solving the North Korea nuclear issue." MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GENG SHUANG, SAYING: "We will severely punish according to law and regulations any company or individual if there is verified evidence of violations." BRIEFING IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
- Embargoed: 14th October 2016 10:58
- Keywords: China North Korea sanctions North Korea sanctions
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA
- City: BEIJING, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00151MCP53
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: China said on Thursday (September 29) that it would punish any company or individual found to be involved in North Korean sanctions breaches.
A senior U.S. official on Wednesday (September 28) said the United States is investigating a number of Chinese companies for suspected breaches of sanctions on North Korea, and Chinese banks and firms should understand that dealing with North Korea is "risky".
China said it opposed any country using its own laws for "long-arm jurisdiction," after the U.S. on Monday (September 26) sanctioned China's Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co for using front companies to evade sanctions on North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
It was the first time the United States has taken such a step against a Chinese firm, and Daniel Fried, sanctions policy coordinator at the U.S. State Department, told a U.S. Senate hearing the action should serve as a warning. He said it would be better if China took such actions itself.
The United States acted against the Chinese firm after North Korea conducted its fifth and largest nuclear test on Sept. 9. Discussions are also under way on a possible new U.N. sanctions resolution on North Korea.
China has been criticized for not doing enough to ensure proper implementation of existing sanctions, despite agreeing to a tough round of U.N. sanctions on North Korea in March.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang reiterated at a regular briefing on Thursday that China was willing to cooperate, but it opposed any country extending the jurisdiction of its domestic laws internationally.
U.S. officials have said North Korea coal exports were a focus of current sanctions discussions with China in the U.N., Security Council, as was Pyongyang's income from labour exports to countries including China and Russia.
"At present, mineral products trade between China and North Korea, such as coal mine trade, are all in line with the relevant resolutions and are also in line with the relevant Chinese laws," Geng said.
Fried said coal exports to China, which bring North Korea around $1 billion annually, were the largest single generator of foreign currency for the isolated country, accounting for about a third of its export earnings. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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