China opposes US call for sweeping sanctions against North Korea

China has rejected proposals by United States Secretary of State John Kerry that tougher sanctions be imposed on North Korea following its nuclear testing earlier this month. Bilateral talks were held yesterday in the Chinese capital, Beijing, during which the two sides agreed to pursue a new UN Security Council resolution on the issue of North Korea and its nuclear programme. The US reportedly sought a range of punitive sanctions, while China favoured talks. Observers suggested that while China is unlikely to agree to sweeping sanctions, which would affect areas such as its own oil exports to North Korea, it might be accommodating to sanctions that would help to curtail North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes. 

US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi prepare to shake hands after China failed to agree to Kerry’s call for tougher sanctions on North Korea following its nuclear bomb test. Photo: AP