US "Trying to Reverse UN Sanctions"
vs China "Sanctions Are Just a Means"
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] While the U.S. government criticized China for clearly violating its obligation to enforce international sanctions against North Korea, China reiterated its existing stance that easing sanctions on North Korea is necessary.
Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, claimed at a regular briefing on the 2nd that China is faithfully implementing the UN Security Council's sanctions resolutions on North Korea, while once again emphasizing the need to ease sanctions on North Korea. Spokesperson Hua stated, "We again urge the UN Security Council to apply the 'reversible' clause of the (North Korea sanctions resolution) and adjust sanctions measures, especially those related to livelihood," adding, "This is to create conditions for a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue."
Earlier, Alex Wong, U.S. Deputy Special Representative for North Korea, strongly criticized China on the 1st (local time) for violating UN Security Council sanctions on North Korea. In his keynote speech at an online seminar hosted by the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the theme of 'North Korea's Economic Outlook Post-Pandemic,' Deputy Representative Wong pointed out, "China is trying to reverse the UN sanctions regime aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons."
Regarding China's non-compliance with sanctions on North Korea, he said that China has continued to host at least 20,000 North Korean workers in violation of UN bans, and last year the U.S. observed 555 instances of ships transporting prohibited coal or other sanctioned goods from North Korea to China. This indicates blatant exchanges occurring under the tacit approval of Chinese authorities.
Deputy Representative Wong said that currently dozens of North Korean delegations related to North Korea's weapons of mass destruction programs or banks are staying in China. He explained, "The U.S. will offer up to $5 million in rewards for information related to evasion of North Korea sanctions," adding, "The U.S. Department of State has launched a separate website for this purpose."
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