China tightens North Korea trade limits on oil, steel products

China's commerce ministry and customs authorities said Friday they've tightened trade restrictions with North Korea, banning outbound shipments of steel goods and limiting the export of oil products.

According to the Chinese Commerce Ministry and China Customs, Beijing will ban exports of steel and industrial machinery goods and will impose a tightened cap on oil supplies to North Korea following new sanctions imposed by the United Nations after Pyongyang's missile tests.

The U.N. Security Council last month decided to impose new penalties on North Korea for its intercontinental ballistic missile test, including setting tougher limits on refined petroleum products and crude oil supplies to Pyongyang.

China is widely known as North Korea's main trading partner and energy supplier. (Yonhap)