Beijing said Wednesday Chinese companies were not involved in shipping missile launch vehicles to
North Korea last year, denying a Japanese newspaper report that accused it of breaking U.N. resolutions.The Asahi Shimbun report -- based on Japanese government sources -- is the most strident of recent claims that China has been involved in helping to arm its wayward ally Pyongyang.
"China has been strictly implementing relevant Security Council resolutions and its own laws and regulations on non-proliferation export control," foreign ministry front man Liu Weimin said in response to a question on the report.
"Chinese companies did not export items that are banned by relevant Security Council resolutions or Chinese laws and regulations."
Asked whether China may have exported the vehicles through companies from third countries, Liu refused to comment further.