Beijing forced to defend
trade with North Korea
after Chinese-made truck
used to showcase missiles
Chinese made military vehicles carry missiles with
characters reading "Pukkuksong" during a military
By Neil Connor , BEIJING and Nicola Smith,
SEOUL
18 APRIL 2017 • 5:14PM
Beijing was forced to defend its trade with
North Korea on Tuesday after it emerged that
Chinese-made trucks were used to display
missiles in a huge military parade that was
staged by Pyongyang.
The images of submarine-launched missiles
being pulled by vehicles made by Chinese
company Sinotruk at Saturday’s parade
revealed the difficulty in enforcing strict UN
sanctions on the reclusive state.
About 80 percent of North Korean overseas
trade - including essential food and fuel
products – is with China, a signatory of
sanctions which ban the export largely of
goods which Pyongyang could use to build
up its military.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang
said China conducts "normal" business with
the North while adhering to UN Security
Council sanctions which began in 2006.
The logo of Sinotruk, a Chinese company, is seen on a
truck carrying submarine launched ballistic missiles
CREDIT: KCNA
"China has been performing its international
obligations strictly, including those stipulated
in the Security Council resolution. But
meanwhile, we carry on normal economic
exchanges and trade with all parties
including North Korea," Mr Lu said.
A sales manager for a Sinotruck dealer told
the AP news agency that the trucks were
modified for military use after being sold to
North Korea.
Beijing banned the import of coal from North
Korea in mid February, but its overall trade
with North Korea has increased, customs
officials said last week.
China’s influential Global Times newspaper
threatened on Tuesday that China could halt
“petroleum exports” to its neighbour, a move
that would have a devastating affect on the
North.
Pyongyang imports almost all its crude oil
from China.
#环球时报 Editorial: Boundary line
drawn over #NorthKorea nuke
issuehttps://t.co/KsojYEi1On
pic.twitter.com/wUCzki3FuP
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews)
April 18, 2017
However, the state-run media outlet said
China would never help the US with measure
that would cause “the direct overthrow of
the Pyongyang regime.”
“Cooperative efforts by China and the US will
under no circumstance evolve into any kind
of military action against North Korea,” said
the newspaper, which has close ties with the
ruling Communist Party.
Tensions have escalated over North Korea in
recent weeks amid fears that Pyongyang is
set to carry out its sixth nuclear test, a move
that could provoke a response from US
president Donald Trump, who ordered an
aircraft carrier group to the region.
US Vice president Mike Pence assured Japan
that Washington would stand with its ally in
the event of hostilities from Pyongyang.
US Vice President Mike Pence, left, and Japanese
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso
listen to a question from a reporter during their joint
press conference at the prime minister's office in
Tokyo, CREDIT: AP
"We are with you 100 percent,” he said in
Japan on Tuesday, during the second leg of a
ten-day visit to Asia.
Meanwhile, A former South Korean
ambassador to the United Nations has
warned that the current North Korea crisis is
the worst he has experienced in decades.
Oh Joon, who retired as ambassador and
permanent representative to the UN in
December, told The Telegraph: “I think this
one is probably more serious than any other
similar crisis we have had within the last few
decades, not least because North Korea is
very close to getting nuclear capabilities.”
trade with North Korea
after Chinese-made truck
used to showcase missiles
Chinese made military vehicles carry missiles with
characters reading "Pukkuksong" during a military

parade CREDIT: REUTERSBy Neil Connor , BEIJING and Nicola Smith,
SEOUL
18 APRIL 2017 • 5:14PM
Beijing was forced to defend its trade with
North Korea on Tuesday after it emerged that
Chinese-made trucks were used to display
missiles in a huge military parade that was
staged by Pyongyang.
The images of submarine-launched missiles
being pulled by vehicles made by Chinese
company Sinotruk at Saturday’s parade
revealed the difficulty in enforcing strict UN
sanctions on the reclusive state.
About 80 percent of North Korean overseas
trade - including essential food and fuel
products – is with China, a signatory of
sanctions which ban the export largely of
goods which Pyongyang could use to build
up its military.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang
said China conducts "normal" business with
the North while adhering to UN Security
Council sanctions which began in 2006.
The logo of Sinotruk, a Chinese company, is seen on a
truck carrying submarine launched ballistic missiles
CREDIT: KCNA
"China has been performing its international
obligations strictly, including those stipulated
in the Security Council resolution. But
meanwhile, we carry on normal economic
exchanges and trade with all parties
including North Korea," Mr Lu said.
A sales manager for a Sinotruck dealer told
the AP news agency that the trucks were
modified for military use after being sold to
North Korea.
Beijing banned the import of coal from North
Korea in mid February, but its overall trade
with North Korea has increased, customs
officials said last week.
China’s influential Global Times newspaper
threatened on Tuesday that China could halt
“petroleum exports” to its neighbour, a move
that would have a devastating affect on the
North.
Pyongyang imports almost all its crude oil
from China.
#环球时报 Editorial: Boundary line
drawn over #NorthKorea nuke
issuehttps://t.co/KsojYEi1On
pic.twitter.com/wUCzki3FuP
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews)
April 18, 2017
However, the state-run media outlet said
China would never help the US with measure
that would cause “the direct overthrow of
the Pyongyang regime.”
“Cooperative efforts by China and the US will
under no circumstance evolve into any kind
of military action against North Korea,” said
the newspaper, which has close ties with the
ruling Communist Party.
Tensions have escalated over North Korea in
recent weeks amid fears that Pyongyang is
set to carry out its sixth nuclear test, a move
that could provoke a response from US
president Donald Trump, who ordered an
aircraft carrier group to the region.
US Vice president Mike Pence assured Japan
that Washington would stand with its ally in
the event of hostilities from Pyongyang.
US Vice President Mike Pence, left, and Japanese
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso
listen to a question from a reporter during their joint
press conference at the prime minister's office in
Tokyo, CREDIT: AP
"We are with you 100 percent,” he said in
Japan on Tuesday, during the second leg of a
ten-day visit to Asia.
Meanwhile, A former South Korean
ambassador to the United Nations has
warned that the current North Korea crisis is
the worst he has experienced in decades.
Oh Joon, who retired as ambassador and
permanent representative to the UN in
December, told The Telegraph: “I think this
one is probably more serious than any other
similar crisis we have had within the last few
decades, not least because North Korea is
very close to getting nuclear capabilities.”
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