China defends August trade boost with North Korea, saying it was permitted under UN sanctions

China on Monday defended its growing trade with North Korea saying it was permitted under UN Security Council sanctions that state they should avoid hurting “humanitarian needs”. China, as the restive state’s main trading partner, “strictly implements” sanctions aimed at stopping its pursuit of nuclear and missile technology, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said. According to Chinese customs data, its exports to North Korea rose 31.4 per cent in August from a year earlier, while imports fell 9.5 per cent. Beijing pointed out that the sanctions did not prohibit food sales and argued against measures that might harm the North Korean public. Beijing also has cut into Pyongyang’s foreign revenue by ordering North Korean-owned restaurants and other businesses and ventures with Chinese partners to close. “The Security Council pointed out that the relevant resolutions should not inflict negative impacts on the livelihood and humanitarian needs of North Korea”, Geng said at a regular briefing. One of five permanent Security Council members with veto power over UN actions, China does not want to push North Korea too hard out of fear Kim’s government might collapse.