Why did China suddenly stop importing coal from North Korea?

(Baonghean.vn) - On February 21, South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted an American expert as saying that the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's brother, excess coal production, and other factors may have caused Beijing to stop importing coal from North Korea.

Illustration photo: Yonhap.

On February 19, China suspended coal imports from North Korea until the end of the year, in line with the latest United Nations Security Council resolution, adopted in December 2016, to punish Pyongyang for its fifth nuclear test in September.

The resolution focuses on setting a limit on North Korea’s coal exports, its largest export and source of revenue, at the lesser of 7.5 million tons or $400 million.

The suspension of coal imports also came just days after the death of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of the North Korean leader, which many believe was an assassination orchestrated by Pyongyang and some experts see as a provocation to China, as Kim Jong-nam was close to Beijing, according to Yonhap.

“The latest move could be a sign of displeasure with North Korea being suspected of carrying out the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, a figure who was protected by China. China, which also has a surplus of coal production, has just announced the closure of hundreds of coal mines in the country at the same time,” said Victor Cha, president of the Korea Institute for Strategic and International Studies.

The expert also noted that China’s recent agreement to import 4,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from North Korea for the first time could be an additional source of foreign exchange for the Pyongyang regime. The agreement also gives China more reason to supply crude oil to North Korea for processing.

“The impact of the coal ban on North Korea will not be immediate as the country had a record revenue ($408.5 million) from coal exports to China” in the fourth quarter of last year, Cha said.

Mr. Cha said Beijing could circumvent its own ban by exploiting a “humanitarian exemption” loophole in the sanctions, allowing it to continue importing North Korean coal through a “subsistence” exception.

Thu Giang

(According to Yonhap)