A North Korean man sits beside a pile of coal on the bank of the Yalu River in the North Korean town of Sinuiju in this December 16, 2006 file picture. REUTERS/Adam Dean/Files
Reuters: The coal loophole: doubts on China's will to enforce North Korea sanctions
Over two weeks after the United Nations slapped harsh new sanctions on North Korea, several Chinese shipping and trade sources say they have not been told of any curbs on the import of coal from the isolated nation - a lifeline for its struggling economy.
China accounts for about 90 percent of North Korea's trade and its help is crucial in enforcing the sanctions announced by the United Nations on March 2 to punish Pyongyang for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Coal is particularly important to the economic health of North Korea because it is one of its only sources of hard currency and its largest single export item. Coal is also bartered for essentials, including oil, food and machinery.
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Update: China says opposes unilateral sanctions on North Korea -- Reuters
WNU editor: The U.S. is spinning a different story .... U.S. officials tout China cooperation on new North Korea sanctions (Reuters)
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