Beijing on Wednesday condemned new U. S. sanctions against Chinese and Russian companies for allegedly helping North Korea with its nuclear program.
Aug. 23 (UPI) — Beijing on Wednesday objected to new U. S. sanctions imposed by the Trump administration against Chinese and Russian companies for allegedly helping North Korea with its nuclear program.
During a news conference Wednesday, China Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the U. S. Treasury’s new sanctions will not alleviate the ongoing conflict between the United States and North Korea.
« The U. S. action will not help the solution of the problem as well as the mutual trust and cooperation with China, » Hua said. « We urge the U. S. side to stop this wrongdoing and correct it. »
The Treasury’s enforcement arm announced the sanctions Tuesday, which target 10 entities and six individuals from China and Russia.
» [We] will continue to increase pressure on North Korea by targeting those who support the advancement of nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and isolating them from the American financial system, » Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said in a statement. « It is unacceptable for individuals and companies in China, Russia, and elsewhere to enable North Korea to generate income used to develop weapons of mass destruction and destabilize the region. »
The fresh U. S. sanctions come as Pyongyang and Washington, and U. S. allies in Asia, remain engaged in a tense diplomatic standoff over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program — as well as escalating rhetoric between President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un .
Trump warned of « fire and fury » if Pyongyang continued to make threats, particularly after testing intercontinental ballistic missiles in July. Kim then threatened to fire ballistic missiles at the U. S. territory of Guam.
Hua said the « extremely tense » situation on the Korean Peninsula has « shown some signs of abating, » though the situation « remains highly complex and sensitive. »
