After the G7 nations, the European Union, and three other countries urged Beijing to expel oil ships from Chinese waters that looked to be transporting fuel to North Korea, China said it “strictly” complies with UN sanctions resolutions.
A letter, addressed to Beijing’s UN envoy Zhang Jun, raised concerns over the “continuing presence of multiple oil tankers” using Chinese waters to “facilitate their trade of sanctioned petroleum products to the DPRK”, referring to North Korea by its official name.
The letter, which was seen by AFP on Friday, was signed by ambassadors from the G7 countries as well as those from the EU, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
Beijing’s answer was that it was “strictly implementing UNSC resolutions and seriously fulfilling international obligations”.
“China urges relevant parties to fully implement UNSC resolutions on the DPRK, especially provisions related to resuming dialogue, strengthening diplomatic efforts, and promoting political settlement,” the spokesperson for its mission to the UN said in a tweet on Monday.
Asked about the letter at a regular briefing Monday, China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said: “When it comes to the implementation of the Security Council’s resolutions, China has always earnestly fulfilled its international obligations.”
The letter stated that the UN team of specialists tasked with overseeing North Korea’s adherence to sanctions had seen the presence and movement of the tankers.
UN sanctions against North Korea for its nuclear and ballistic missile launches have been in place since 2006.
Additional sanctions in 2017 restricted its ability to import crude oil.
Since then, the Security Council has been unable to agree on a position.
Despite many North Korean ballistic missile launches, no Council resolution or statement has been adopted since China and Russia blocked the adoption of a resolution in May 2022 that would have imposed further penalties on Pyongyang.
The United States frequently charges Beijing and Moscow with protecting the North Korean government and promoting additional launches by impeding a coordinated Council reaction.
