China moves to restrict oil exports to DPRK

China will restrict oil exports to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and suspend textile imports from DPRK, the Ministry of Commerce said.

The ministry will implement UN Security Council Resolution 2375 by halting the export of liquified natural gas and gas condensate to the DPRK from Saturday and limit exports of refined oil from Oct. 1, according to an online statement.

The ban on textile imports will be effective from Saturday, it said.

Refined oil exports to the DPRK from all UN members is capped at 500,000 barrels from Oct. 1 to the end of the year and 2 million barrels annually from Jan. 1, 2018. China will suspend such exports once the total exports approaches the ceiling.

Exported refined oil products must be used fully on civil purposes, not for the DPRK's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, or other activities banned by the UN Security Council, the ministry said.

Last week the council unanimously adopted resolution 2375, imposing fresh sanctions on the DPRK over its nuclear test on Sept. 3, which violated previous UN resolutions.