You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
China-Japan-Koreas
China Investigating Whether It Helped Norks Violate UN Sanctions
2010-02-27
Oh the suspense ...
China is looking into whether it may have been involved in aiding a North Korean arms shipment that was bound for central Africa.
Sort of like how the Department of Justice investigates itself these days ...
The shipment was intercepted by South Africa and is in violation of United Nations sanctions against Pyongyang. South Africa this week sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council detailing its seizure of a shipment of North Korean tank parts bound for the Republic of Congo. News reports say the letter details the shipment's route, saying it was first loaded onto a ship in China and then transferred to a French-owned ship in Malaysia.

At a regular Foreign Ministry briefing in Beijing Thursday, spokesman Qin Gang had little to say on the matter. Qin says China has noted the reports and is "looking into the issue." He said his country will take part in relevant discussions, but he gave no further details.
"looking into the issue" is diplo-speak for "dang, we got caught" ...
The shipment was seized in November, after officials at the French shipping company told South African authorities they were suspicious of the cargo their ship was transporting to the Republic of Congo. The shipment violates a United Nations resolution that bans all North Korean arms exports and authorizes UN member states to inspect North Korean cargo on land, sea and air. The ban was imposed last June, in the wake of North Korea's underground nuclear test.

On a separate issue, the Chinese spokesman stressed that a recent agreement between China and North Korea to jointly develop two small border islands as "free-trade areas" does not violate any UN sanctions against North Korea. Qin says China believes the latest project is consistent with the UN sanctions. He says the sanctions should not affect what he describes as "normal exchanges and cooperation" between the two countries.

The project involves developing two small islands in the Yalu River, near the Chinese border city, Dandong, as free trade areas where foreigners can enter and exit without visas. Reports say the plans include the construction of hotels, a golf course, entertainment facilities and agricultural parks. The reports say the aim is to increase foreign investment in North Korea and strengthen the isolated country's international economic ties.
All of which violates the sanctions ...
Posted by:Steve White

#2  Ummmmmmmmmmm...nope.
Posted by: tu3031   2010-02-27 13:12  

#1  North Korean Post Card to China:

Hi, here with a few of my friends !

Investigation going well.

Nothing to report so far, but will continue to look into the issue.

Posted by: Snavimble Dark Lord of the Huns2650   2010-02-27 13:04  

00:00