The value of China's coal imports from North Korea surged nearly 40 percent in February, official data shows -- the same month Beijing vowed to suspend the trade over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests.

China imported $97.6 million worth of North Korean coal last month -- a key foreign currency-earner for the pariah state -- up from $70.1 million during the same period last year, according to China's customs website.

Its total imports from the North rose to $176.7 million in the month, up 47 percent from $119.9 million a year earlier.

The volume of coal imported last month, however, fell to 1.23 million tonnes from a year-ago 1.52 million tonnes.

The data came after Beijing announced on February 18 that it was halting all imports of coal from North Korea for the rest of the year.

The move followed another rocket launch by Pyongyang and the assassination in Malaysia of the half-brother of the North's leader Kim Jong-Un.

It is not clear if the Chinese customs data only cover the period before the official suspension came into force or the entire month.

China is the North's sole major ally and its economic lifeline, but has come under pressure to do more to rein in its neighbour.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Beijing of failing to use its leverage to help stop the North's nuclear programme.

"North Korea is behaving very badly. They have been 'playing' the United States for years. China has done little to help!" Trump wrote in a Twitter-blast earlier this month.

The hardened US stance followed two North Korean nuclear tests last year and recent missile launches that Pyongyang described as practise for an attack on US bases in Japan.

Pyongyang is barred under UN resolutions from carrying out ballistic missile launches or nuclear tests.

Beijing is reluctant to squeeze the unpredictable North too hard lest it trigger a confrontation or messy regime collapse.

China wants to resume multi-lateral diplomatic negotiations with North Korea on dismantling its nukes -- which UN resolutions bar it from having -- but various rounds of such talks in years past failed to deter Pyongyang.

Chinese authorities traditionally ensured that UN Security Council resolutions on sanctions against Pyongyang included humanitarian exemptions, and had continued to purchase huge amounts of North Korean coal.

But the latest resolution, passed in December, had no such clause and Beijing suspended purchases of coal from the North -- for three weeks to December 31.

Tweet

North Korea's parliament to hold rare meeting: KCNA
Seoul (AFP) March 22, 2017
North Korea will hold a rare parliamentary session next month, state media reported Wednesday, as regional tensions intensify following the nuclear-armed state's recent missile tests. The country's legislative body meets only once or twice a year, mostly for day-long sessions to rubber-stamp budgets or other decisions deemed necessary by the ruling Workers' Party. The last meeting was ... read more

Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only