US sanctions 'will not help' solve DPRK issues: Chinese FM

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

The US sanctions targeting Chinese firms which Washington said were linked to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "will not help" solve the issues, said Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

Hua made the remarks at a press conference, hours after the US Treasury Department said it is imposing new sanctions on Chinese and Russian entities and individuals for doing business with Pyongyang that could help advance the DPRK's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"The US action will not help solve the problem and is not good for the mutual trust and cooperation with China," Hua said. 

She also stressed that China opposes any unilateral sanctions outside the framework of the United Nations Security Council, urging the US to stop this wrongdoing and correct it.