Trump slams China over reported North Korea oil sales: 'Caught RED HANDED'
US satellites reportedly catch China selling oil to North Korea
President Trump slammed China on Thursday over the country's reported illegal oil
sales to North Korea, saying they've been caught "RED HANDED" and warning such incidents
could diminish the odds of a "friendly solution" for Pyongyang.
"Caught RED HANDED - very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea.
There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues
to happen!" Trump tweeted, while on a holiday break in Florida.
U.S. spy satellites reportedly captured photos of Chinese ships illegally selling oil to
North Korean boats some 30 times since October.
REPORT: CHINA SPOTTED ILLEGALLY SELLING OIL TO N. KOREA
Satellite images released by the U.S. Department of Treasury appeared to show vessels from
both countries illegally trading oil in the West Sea, The Chosun Ilbo reported Tuesday,
citing South Korean government sources.
North Korea was barred in September by the United Nations Security Council from importing
natural gas and had its crude oil imports capped in response to Kim Jong Un's nuclear
missile program.
The U.S. Treasury in November also sanctioned North Korea's Maritime Administration and
its transport ministry, in addition to six North Korean shipping and trading companies
and 20 of their vessels, in an effort to block the rogue regime's transportation networks.
The satellite images appear to identify the ships.
One of them — Rye Song Gang 1, seen "connected to a Chinese vessel" — was included in
the Nov. 21 sanctions as a vessel of Korea Kumbyol Trading Company possibly transferring
oil to evade sanctions.
While Russia exports some oil to North Korea, China is the main source of oil for the rogue
nation, according to Reuters.
However, the country's records reportedly showed it exported no oil products to the
North during the month of November.
It was reportedly the second consecutive month China didn't export diesel or gasoline to
North Korea.
NORTH KOREA CALLS UN SANCTIONS 'AN ACT OF WAR,' 'RIGGED UP BY THE US'
A government source told the South Korean newspaper that, "We need to focus on the fact
that the illicit trade started after a UN Security Council resolution in September drastically
capped North Korea's imports of refined petroleum products."
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she had no information following Chosun's
report, but said "the Chinese government has been completely and strictly enforcing
Security Council resolutions" aimed at discouraging
North Korea from developing nuclear and missile technology.
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