China maintains friendship with N. Korea despite criticism

China said it is maintaining friendly relations with North Korea despite criticisms a day earlier from Pyongyang over ban on coal imports by Beijing.

Pyongyang, through an article on its official agency KCNA, had reproached Beijing for its temporary ban buying coal from North Korea, a measure it termed as "inhuman" and claimed to have been "driven by enemy forces".

"China and the North Korea are friendly neighbours. We are ready to work with them for the healthy and sound development of relations," Efe news quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang as saying.

"In the meantime, China's position on the Korean nuclear issue is unequivocal and consistent, North Korea is well aware of that," Geng added, insisting that Beijing is also willing to comply with the sanctions imposed on North Korea by the UN Security Council over its nuclear and other armament programs.

The spokesperson said Beijing unanimously sides with the international community in its opposition to the nuclear and missile programs of the North Korean regime.

According to official data released Friday by China, coal imports in January from North Korea fell to 1.45 million tons, 13 per cent less than during the same period last year and 28 per cent less than in December.

--IANS

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