IANS | 29 Sep, 2017
The Chinese government on Thursday ordered all North Korean companies
based in the country to close by the end of 2017 in accordance with UN
sanctions over Pyongyangs latest nuclear missile tests.
China's
Commerce Ministry said North Korean firms or joint ventures in China
will be shut within 120 days of the UN decision, which was announced on
September 12, Efe news reported.
The move comes amid intense international pressure on China to act to rein-in its neighbour.
Beijing
had previously ordered banks to stop working with the North Korean
regime following US concerns the Chinese government wasn't being tough
enough on the North Korean nuclear threat.
China is North Korea's
main trading partner and traditionally has remained a staunch political
supporter. However, in recent months it has refrained from vetoing UN
Security Council's tough sanctions against Pyongyang.
Beijing
continued to stress the need of promoting talks in order to reduce
tensions in the region, while insisting that military force should not
be an option.
The UNSC voted unanimously in September to increase
sanctions on North Korea, banning its textile exports and capping fuel
supplies.
The body's action was triggered by North Korea's sixth
and largest nuclear test this month. It was the ninth Security Council
sanctions resolution over North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear
programmes since 2006.
