US to use security talks to express concerns about Chinese firms with ties to North Korea
About 10 Chinese companies and individuals allegedly have links to North Korea’s missile and nuclear programme
The US will use a high-level security dialogue with China on Wednesday to make Beijing aware of Washington’s concerns about nearly 10 Chinese companies and individuals allegedly having links to North Korea’s missile and nuclear programme, a senior US diplomat confirmed.
The comments by Susan Thornton, US acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, came as the Trump administration aims to push China to increase pressure on Pyongyang ahead of the US-China security dialogue in Washington.
US President Donald Trump said in a Twitter post on Tuesday that China’s efforts to bring a resolution to the North Korea crisis have “not worked out”.
“At least I know China tried!” the president tweeted.
Thornton reiterated in a press briefing on Tuesday that the US will keep the option of imposing sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals who allegedly back Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear tests on the table.
The US has accused a Chinese company, Mingzheng International Trading, of laundering money on behalf of the Foreign Trade Bank, a North Korean lender subject to sanctions, the US Attorney’s office in the District of Columbia said in a statement last Thursday.