US claims over dealing with N Korea slammed

BEIJING: China denied US claims that Beijing’s actions hold the key to reining in North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

“Trade between China and [North] Korea of coal and other mineral products all conform to provisions of relevant [UN] resolutions, as well as domestic laws and regulations of China,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular news briefing.

Asked to comment on a senior US diplomat’s call a day before for China to play a bigger role in applying pressure on North Korea, Mr Geng continued to say: “The origin and the crux of the Korean nuclear issue is not in China. The essence of the issue is differences between [North] Korea and the United States.”

“The United States should assume its own responsibilities and play a constructive role in resolving the nuclear issue,” he said.

Daniel Russel, US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, told a hearing at a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Wednesday that restricting North Korea’s ability to export coal is a focus of talks over a new UN Security Council sanctions resolution in response to Pyongyang’s fifth nuclear test on Sept 9.

“We share the concern that China’s purchases of coal and other economic activities create a lifeline that reduces the impact of global sanctions,” Mr Russel said.

North Korea’s coal exports, mostly to China, generate more than $1 billion (about 35 billion baht) in revenue for the regime of leader Kim Jong-un and account for about a third of all export income, according to Mr Russel.

“We are working to build on previous UN Security Council resolutions to address loopholes that allow North Korea to export coal and iron ore, earning precious foreign currency for the Kim regime on the backs of enslaved workers, including children,” he said.

“Much will depend on China, which is by far North Korea’s greatest trading partner,” he added.