China imports of NK coal surge in February

THE value of China’s coal imports from North Korea surged nearly 40 percent in February, official data show – the same month Beijing vowed to suspend the trade over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests.

China imported $97.6 million worth of North Korean coal last month – a key foreign currency- earner for the pariah state – up from $70.1 million during the same period last year, according to China’s customs website.

Its total imports from the North rose to $176.7 million in the month, up 47 percent from $119.9 million a year earlier.

The volume of coal imported last month, however, fell to 1.23 million tonnes from a year-ago 1.52 million tonnes.

The data came after Beijing announced on February 18 that it was halting all imports of coal from North Korea for the rest of the year.

The move followed another rocket launch by Pyongyang and the assassination in Malaysia of the half-brother of the North’s leader Kim Jong-un.

It is unclear if China imported any coal after the suspension came into force or if all the purchases were made earlier in the month.

China is the North’s sole major ally and its economic lifeline, but Beijing has come under pressure to do more to rein in its neighbour.

China wants to resume multilateral diplomatic negotiations with North Korea on dismantling its nukes – which UN resolutions bar it from having – but various rounds of such talks in years past failed to deter Pyongyang.