China intensifies economic pressure on N. Korea

By Jun Ji-hye

China is stepping up economic sanctions against North Korea as Washington pressures Beijing to play a bigger role in persuading Pyongyang to halt its nuclear and missile programs.

China’s move, which reflects a shift in the view of its longtime ally, comes as the standoff over the North’s nuclear weapons has entered a dangerous phase following a war of words between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

On Thursday, China ordered North Korean companies in the country and the North’s joint venture companies with Chinese businesses to close within 120 days. The move follows the U.N. Security Council’s approval of its latest sanctions resolution, Sept. 11.

Analysts say North Korean restaurants in China, a key source of hard currency for the impoverished state, will bear the brunt of the most powerful sanctions Beijing has imposed on the North.

On Sept. 23, under the U.N. sanctions, China also limited supplies of petroleum products to the North and imports of textiles from the country.

Such prompt actions reflect China’s changing attitude toward North Korea. Beijing has been hesitant to punish its neighbor despite calls from the U.S. and South Korea to tighten sanctions.

China’s shift follows the Trump administration’s initiation of a so-called secondary boycott that calls for penalties against third-party companies or individuals who deal with the North, mainly targeting China, Pyongyang’s sole ally.

Trump signed an executive order, Sept. 21, aimed at cutting off banks and companies doing business with the North from the U.S. financial system _ apparently targeting Chinese institutions.

The U.S. State Department welcomed China’s latest move, expressing hopes that its sincere adherence to the sanctions could lead to a change in North Korea’s attitude, according to the Voice of America.

Susan Thornton, acting assistant secretary of state for Asian and Pacific affairs, also recognized China’s efforts to denuclearize the North.

“We recognize that the success of this pressure strategy will depend on heavy cooperation from our international partners, especially Beijing,” Thornton said during a Senate hearing on the effectiveness of sanctions, Thursday.

“We are working closely with China to execute this strategy and are clear-eyed in viewing the progress, if uneven, that China has made on this front.”

Thornton noted that the U.S. wanted China and others to meet their internationally binding obligations, and China’s leaders to exert their decisive leverage over the North more fully.

Some observers say Beijing is taking prompt action to show it is serious ahead of Trump’s visit in November.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson left for Beijing earlier in the day for talks with Chinese officials on the agenda for Trump’s visit.

During a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong before his departure, Tillerson said North Korea would “certainly” be on the table for discussion.

Trump and Kim have exchanged personal insults and threats of war, with Trump threatening to “totally destroy” the North if the U.S. was forced to defend itself or its allies. On Sept. 23 the U.S. flew B-1B bombers from Guam and F-15 fighters from Okinawa farther north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) than any U.S. warplanes have flown this century.

Kim also threatened to exercise “a corresponding, highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history” in response to Trump’s threat to destroy the North.