China issues new list of items denied to North

BEIJING - China has tightened restrictions on North Korea by issuing a lengthy list of items and technologies banned from export to its ally and neighbor because of their potential use in manufacturing weapons of mass destruction.

The move reflects Beijing’s desire to get Pyongyang to recommit to nuclear disarmament through negotiations.

The list of forbidden materials with both civilian and military applications includes those in the nuclear, missile, chemical and biological fields.

A Commerce Ministry notice posted to its Web site Tuesday included 236 pages of explanation and details of banned items.

The notice said the action was being taken to enforce UN Security Council resolutions.

That will likely be seen in Pyongyang as another reprimand from its only substantial ally. The move is a continuation of China’s new policy of putting slightly greater pressure on North Korea to coax it back to disarmament talks, said Li Mingjiang, China security expert at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

China could have simply implemented the ban, but announcing it so publicly was a sign to the United States and the rest of the international community that Beijing is sincere in meeting its commitments, Li said. He said it’s also a rebuke to Pyongyang.

“The leaders in Pyongyang will hate this. They’ll be angry,” Li said. Pyongyang will likely “swallow the bitter pill” and may respond with concessions, he said. AP