Donald Trump attacks China on Twitter. According to the US president, Beijing continues to sell oil to North Korea, violating the embargo decided by the UN. “Caught in the act – tweeted the number one of the White House – I am very disappointed that China is allowing oil to reach North Korea. There will never be an amicable solution if this keeps happening."
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!
- Donald J. Trump (@ realDonaldTrump) 28 December 2017
Previously, a South Korean site had published photos that allegedly portray Chinese tankers while supplying some ships of Kim Jong-un's regime with crude oil.
Before Christmas, the United Nations Security Council had approved with the green light also from China (which could have exercised the right of veto but did not) new sanctions against North Korea. The resolution had been prepared precisely by the United States.
The measures introduced to punish Pyongyang's missile and nuclear program include a 90% cut in exports of refined petroleum products destined for the communist country, bringing them to a maximum of 500 barrels per year. The ceiling on the sale of crude oil is instead set at 4 million barrels per year.
The Security Council also pledged to place further restrictions in the event that North Korea were to continue nuclear tests and long-range ballistic missile launches. Measures that Kim Jong-un called an "act of war".
After the publication of the photos, China replied that it had not broken the United Nations sanctions and reiterated that it scrupulously complies with the resolutions on North Korea. "The situation you mentioned - replied a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense - does not exist in the most absolute way".
