China Imposes Further Sanctions On North Korea Amid Heightened Tensions

China has informed North Korean companies operating in its territories that they will have to close down.

The move comes as part of the UN sanctions, as voted for on September 11th, imposed against the rogue state in retaliation to their recently escalated nuclear activity.

The companies have been ordered to close by early January, with joint Chinese and North Korean companies also being forced to shut down.

China is currently Pyongyang’s sole major ally, and they have already banned the textile trade and limited oil exports to the country.

The country’s commerce ministry has set a 120 day deadline for the companies’ closure.

Although China has previously been supportive of North Korea, it has been critical of the recent nuclear tests.

Indeed, earlier in the year it restricted its purchase of coal from North Korea, as well as seafood and iron.

This is due in part to the public pressure from Donald Trump, who has urged China to impose heavy sanctions on Pyongyang.

China’s forign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said to the press:

"We are opposed to any war on the Korean peninsula."

"Sanctions and the promoting of talks are both the requirements of the UN Security Council. We should not overemphasise one aspect while ignoring the other."