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China has told North Korean companies operating in its territory to close down as it implements United Nations sanctions against the reclusive state.
The companies will be shut by early January. Joint Chinese and North Korean ventures will also be forced to close.
China, Pyongyang's only major ally, has already banned textile trade and limited oil exports.
The move is part of an international response to North Korea's sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
The UN Security Council, of which China is a member, voted unanimously for fresh sanctions on 11 September.
China's commerce ministry said it had set a deadline of 120 days from the passing of the resolution for any North Korean companies within its borders to close.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41431057
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 30 2017, @07:24PM (5 children)
China is putting on the show of pressuring Norks, enough so that the Nork envoy went to Russia for support.
But it's barely more than a show. Doesn't change the geopolitics reality - Norks are the buffer state against USFK stationed in the S. Korea, and a useful irritant/bargaining chip against the US. Russia is aiming to gain the same leverage against the US with Norks.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 30 2017, @07:53PM (4 children)
Maybe you should read some Chinese and other Asian news regarding current and recent events. China has basically supported NK for decades. They have done so, because China would lose face after having rescued NK from the US in the Korean War (technically not a war though, right?)
However, from China's point of view, NK has acted like spoiled, petulant children almost from the beginning of China's support. China stands to lose more face by supporting NK, than they lose if they quietly withdraw support. NK starting WWIII would be a Very Bad Thing from everyone's perspective. The elder Kim was somewhat predictable. This younger Kim is less predictable - and far less respectful of his Chinese patrons.
China will almost certainly lose face and standing on the world stage, no matter what their bastard stepchild does. But, they'll lose less face, if they have withdrawn support for the bastard.
It's almost a year ago now, that China stopped purchasing coal from NK. Coal was a major source of revenue, and China was the primary purchaser. Partly due to pressure from the world community, and partly due to China's own judgement, that support was withdrawn. The petulant child has been acting out more than usual, partly due to that withdrawal of support.
As time passes, one of two things will happen. Ultimately, the NK government will begin to act more responsibly, OR, China will oversee the destruction of that government.
Remember, this is China. This nation is one of the longest lived nations on earth, with history and traditions that go back 5000 years or more. They play the long-term game. China, unlike western governments and corporations, is able to think and plan decades ahead. They have contingencies for North Korea.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 30 2017, @08:28PM (2 children)
Patently bullshit, as China has unified and fractured multiple times throughout history. The current Chinese nation as we know it is less than 100 years old.
You could say pretty much the same thing about Europe.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 01 2017, @12:54AM
Two words.
Dark. Ages.
European nations have no thousands-of-years continuity. Europe does little better than nations of "The Dark Continent".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 01 2017, @01:01AM
Note that no one said anything about "government". The country, the people, have existed for thousands of years.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 30 2017, @08:32PM
Save your breadth - I am a Korean keeping abreast of Korean and other Asian media. And I bet I am good bit more familiar with the Chinese history than you.