by Itunuoluwa Adebo

President Donald Trump has applauded China’s move in turning a fleet of coal-carrying cargo ships back to North Korea this week, describing it as a “big step” towards cracking down on the rogue state.

Trump praised reports of China turning away North Korean coal during a joint news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.”We have a very big problem in North Korea. And, as I said, I really think that China is going to try very hard, and has already started.”

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China banned all imports of coal from North Korea in mid-February, soon after Pyongyang tested a new intermediate range missile. Almost all coal shipments to the Chinese city of Dandong, on the North Korean border, since February has been turned back.

The ban followed strict, new sanctions imposed in November by the United Nations on North Korean coal exports, which China helped to draft and pass. China is by far North Korea’s largest trading partner. North Korea reacted furiously to China’s February ban, saying they were “dancing to the tune of the US “and described the cutting of imports as “inhumane.” Chinese Customs spokesman Huang Songping confirmed Thursday that China stopped all North Korean coal imports after February 18.

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Trump’s statement comes days after he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. The two then spoke on what the White House called a “very productive” phone call Tuesday night. When asked at a daily press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said turning back coal ships from North Korea was part of China “strictly carrying out our international obligations.”

Itunuoluwa