It appears that North Korea's fresh declaration
of its nuclear ambitions and defiance of UN
sanctions are not resonating with its only
long-time ally China.
A South Korean news outlet reports... citing
unnamed sources in China that Beijing is tightening
sanctions against Pyongyang... refusing to
issue new working visas for North Koreans
and halting their financial transactions in
the country.
Kim Hye-sung reports.
Chinese authorities announced Monday that
it will stop issuing new visas for North Koreans
who plan to work for Chinese firms and North
Korean restaurants operating near border cities,
according to Korea's Yonhap News Agency.
Such a move is expected to cut the inflow
of foreign currency to the cash-strapped North.
Chinese business owners operating North Korean
restaurants say that visas will only be extended
for North Koreans already working in the country,
which is likely to cut at their business.
"There are around 20,000 North Koreans working
in China.
They usually work for three years then return
to home.
If new working visas are not issued, many
Chinese firms may soon face labor shortages
and an annual loss of 100 million dollars."
The Chinese government is also reportedly
planning to stop North Korean workers from
using credit and debit cards in China.
This is all part of a larger effort to tighten
up on the North in line with the tougher UN
Security Council sanctions following Pyongyang's
fourth nuclear test earlier this year.
In March, China, which usually vetoes tough
sanctions against the North, agreed to ban
exports of coal, iron and iron ore, and rare
earth minerals from North Korea for the first
time.
And now it's cracking down on North Korean
labor.
"China is frustrated by Pyongyang's nuclear
and missile tests, which only serve to increase
U.S. involvement in Northeast Asia.
By imposing tighter sanctions, China is pressuring
the North to return to the negotiation table."
Last month, 13 North Korean restaurant workers
fled China and defected to the South, as those
businesses struggled to make profits.
As sanctions against the regime tighten further,
businesses operating along the North Korea-China
border could suffer even more.
Kim Hye-sung, Arirang News.
