Trump accuses China of allowing oil transfers to North Korea
US President Donald Trump has tweeted that he's "very disappointed" with China following reports that it has allowed oil shipments to North Korea. He said China has been "caught red-handed" and that there could be no "friendly solution" to the North Korean crisis if the oil shipments continued. Last week, China supported a US-drafted UN Security Council resolution cutting Pyongyang's petrol imports by 90%.
UN Security Council imposes tougher sanctions on North Korea
On December 23, the UN Security Council voted to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea over its continued nuclear and ballistic missile tests. The sanctions resolution, drafted by the US, included a provision to cut the North's petrol imports by 90%. The North's two main trading partners, China and Russia, voted in favor of the resolution. These are the tenth round of UNSC sanctions.
What Trump tweeted
What the reports say?
South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo recently reported that North Korean vessels were secretly being filled with oil by Chinese tankers at sea. It cited South Korean officials who said that US spy satellites had recorded the illegal ship-to-ship transfers 30 times since October. The US hasn't confirmed the reports but a State Department official told Reuters that such ship-to-ship transfers remain a concern.
China denies reports of illegal ship-to-ship oil transfers
China is North Korea's biggest trading partner. The Chinese defense ministry responded to questions about the alleged ship-to-ship oil transfers saying, "The situation you have mentioned absolutely does not exist." Meanwhile, the US State Department said, "We urge China to end all economic ties with the DPRK [North Korea], including tourism and the provision of any oil or petroleum products."
