Senior state department official for human rights, Scott Busby, says China using a loophole in UN sanctions to purchase significant amounts of North Korean coal is unacceptable, adding that the coal sales are probably the country's main source of foreign currency. The US has imposed new economic sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes on Chinese officials over their role in Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme.
Senior state department official for human rights, Scott Busby, says China using a loophole in UN sanctions to purchase significant amounts of North Korean coal is unacceptable, adding that the coal sales are probably the country's main source of foreign currency. The US wants China to agree to tighter sanctions in response to nuclear tests carried out on 9 September, and to enforce restrictions that are already in place.