China says opposes any unilateral sanctions against country

March 17, 2016 10:34 AM

North Korea conducted a nuclear test on Jan. 6, and a Feb. 7 rocket launch that the United States and its allies said employed banned ballistic missile technology.

China says opposes any unilateral sanctions against North Korea

China opposes any unilateral sanctions on North Korea, the Foreign Ministry said, after the United States imposed sweeping new curbs on the isolated country in retaliation for its nuclear and rocket tests.

Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks at a regular briefing on Thursday.

The U.S. measures, which vastly expanded the U.S. blockade over Pyongyang, prohibit exportation of goods from the U.S. to North Korea. U.S. officials had previously believed a blanket trade ban would be ineffective without a stronger commitment from China, North Korea's largest trading partner.

North Korea conducted a nuclear test on Jan. 6, and a Feb. 7 rocket launch that the United States and its allies said employed banned ballistic missile technology. China signed on to new U.N. sanctions against North Korea earlier this month.