China Suspends North Korean Coal Imports
North Korea’s recent ballistic missile test has drawn immediate action from China and public ridicule from many nations. In an effort to impose United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang's actions, China has ceased coal imports as of Feb. 19. Coal is North Korea’s largest export, and the country is extremely dependent on Beijing to bolster its collapsed economy. Now, it seems the Chinese are no longer willing to fulfill that role. Previously, worries about a possible power vacuum at China’s border dissuaded the government from taking action against the North Korean regime. Beijing formerly kept a foot on each side of the fence by partially restricting imports but allowing those that were unconnected to Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce plans to enforce the new restrictions for the remainder of the year. Future sanctions remain unclear, though with North Korea’s current trajectory, it seems likely that more nations will join in condemnation of Pyongyang’s actions and seek to hinder the country’s already fragile economy. The first rejected coal shipment was valued at around 1 million dollars.
North Korea has also made headlines recently with the assassination of Kim Jong Un’s half brother in Malaysia. Kim Jong Nam had been under threat of death since his half brother took control of the regime and forced him out of political circles. As he was living mostly in China, the Chinese government likely took his assassination as a personal affront, adding to their motivations behind imposing stricter sanctions on their neighboring country.
Ever since the current dictator assumed control, China’s relationship with North Korea has become strained. His defiant nuclear tests and instability throughout the region exposes a difference in the goals of the two countries, creating a rift between a secretive and isolated government and its greatest political and economic lifeline.
Trump’s policy on dealing with North Korea as a nuclear threat has been to make China do the work instead. His administration urged China to take action, due to the relatively limited impact that the United States has on such an isolated nation. It seems that Beijing is stepping up to fill that role, a heartening prospect considering the inaction of other world powers. China remains hopeful of a diplomatic settlement, as a war would have a high cost in human lives and severely unbalance the region.
China isn’t the only country bent on putting North Korea back in its place. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the latest missile launch test as “absolutely intolerable.” South Korea has also vehemently attacked the North for its lack of compliance with international rules and erratic behavior. Nevertheless, it is as powerless as most other nations when trying to coerce North Korea into observing international law.
North Korea’s isolation makes it difficult for most nations to impose effective restrictions, economic or otherwise. China took the most drastic action thus far, though the consequences have yet to show themselves. The international community—western countries in particular—find their hands tied when it comes to possible courses of action. Economic sanctions do little to affect Pyongyang’s leadership and public ridicule is not a strong enough motivator. The government’s extreme limits on free speech or media presence restrict the public’s ability to demonstrate and advocate for a regime change.
The negative consequences of military action would outweigh the benefits by a massive margin. Provoking a country with demonstrable military capability would likely end in a toll of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of lives lost. Furthermore, a hostile takeover by foreign governments would only serve to destabilize the region further and may solidify anti-western sentiment. In light of all these considerations, China’s action seems to be the best form of progress so far. The Chinese have also indicated their willingness to facilitate multilateral diplomatic talks with the aim of resolving any future conflict. If these newly imposed sanctions prove to be effective, there may be hope in controlling the North Korean leadership without resorting to a show of force or turning to war.