China tightens North Korea trade limits under UN sanctions
BEIJING — China on Friday tightened limits on critically important energy supplies to North Korea and stepped up other trade restrictions under intensified U.N. nuclear sanctions.
Beijing said it will limit exports of crude oil and refined petroleum to the North. Previous curbs didn’t apply to crude oil, which makes up the bulk of China’s energy exports to the North.
China accounts for nearly all of Pyongyang’s energy supplies and trade, making its enforcement key to sanctions aimed at discouraging leader Kim Jong Un from pursuing nuclear and missile technology.
The Security Council tightened sanctions on the North following its ballistic missile test on Nov. 29.