Jul. 15 – China has announced it would impose a UN-mandated travel and asset ban on senior North Korean officials as a consequence of its continued missile and nuclear activity, a first for one of the hermit state’s few and long time allies.
The move may indicate that China is becoming more committed in reigning in its unpredictable neighbor amid speculations that North Korean leader Kim Jung-Il is sick with pancreatic cancer and has already chosen his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, to replace him.
Since the 1950s, China has been sending aid to North Korea in efforts to prevent its instability from spilling over to its 1,416 kilometer shared border.
According to Press Tv, China’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Liu Zhenmin said the sanctions will affect senior North Korean officials handling the country’s nuclear and missile programs.
Pyongyang’s international diplomatic ties have been strained recently because of its continued stance to launch short- and medium-range missiles despite UN sanctions.
