US imposes new sanctions on DPRK
Beijing opposes ‘long-arm jurisdiction’ over Chinese entities and individuals
The US Department of Treasury has issued new sanctions on entities and individuals, allegedly related to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The Treasury said in a statement that it slapped sanctions on nine entities, 16 individuals and six vessels in response to the DPRK’s alleged “ongoing development of weapons of mass destruction and continued violations of United Nations Security Council Resolutions”.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been high over the past year, as the crisis has been worsened by the exchange of personal insults and confrontational rhetoric between the leaders of the United States and the DPRK.
The US administration, under President Donald Trump, has been sticking to a strategy of “maximum pressure” on the DPRK to force it to abandon its weapons programs, but so far has failed to achieve its goals.
As a result of the Treasury’s action, any property or interests of the designated persons in the US will be blocked and transactions by US citizens involving these persons are generally prohibited.
Beijing reiterated on Thursday its opposition to long-arm jurisdiction over Chinese entities and individuals by any countries according to their domestic law.
China has always been implementing the UN Security Council’s resolutions over Pyongyang fully and strictly, and its efforts are obvious to all, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
Positive interaction
If any entity or individual is found through investigation to be conducting activities in the Chinese territory that are against the UN Security Council resolutions or Chinese law, China will hold them accountable seriously, Hua said.
“China resolutely opposes any country using its own laws to carry out long-arm jurisdiction on Chinese companies or individuals,” she said.
Hua also said it is vital that for positive interaction between Seoul and Pyongyang to lead to political talks, and that the SixParty Talks are still viable.
It is also very important if such interaction leads to talks between Washington and Pyongyang, as the key to solve the Korean Peninsula issue lies in the hands of the two sides, Hua said.
An anonymous official from the Republic of Korea said on Wednesday now is the “best time” for Pyongyang to hold dialogue with Washington, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
Hua urged Washington and Pyongyang to work together and seize the window of opportunity to make progress in solving the issue through dialogue.
The Six-Party Talks have played an important and irreplaceable role in solving the Korean Peninsula issue, Hua said, responding to the official’s comments that it would be hard to resume such talks.
“We believe the Six-Party Talks are still viable,” Hua said, adding that parties involved will be able to find a way to resume the talks if they understand and respect each other, resort to their wisdom and cultivate trust through negotiation.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson against the escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula by using aggressive rhetoric, including threats of a naval blockade, in a phone conversation on Wednesday. Xinhua contributed to this story.