US Treasury official to China to discuss North Korea

Districy of Columbia: A top US Treasury official will visit China this week to discuss North Korea`s menacing actions and sanctions aimed at curbing the country's "destabilizing behavior," the Treasury announced Monday.

Adam Szubin, Treasury acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, will visit Beijing and Hong Kong on March 15-16 for discussions with both government officials and the private sector on implementing the China-supported United Nations and US sanctions on Pyongyang announced March 2.

"This trip provides an important opportunity for discussions of ways to strengthen US-China coordination in response to North Korea`s destabilizing behavior and to ensure sanctions targeting the North Korean regime are as effective as possible," the Treasury said.

The UN and US sanctions were responses to a new nuclear test and rocket launch by North Korea that were deemed provocations and violations of previous UN resolutions banning specific nuclear activities.

The sanctions blacklisted a number of North Korean officials and required all countries to inspect cargo to and from North Korea, in all airports and seaports.

They also ban or restrict exports of coal, iron and iron ore and other minerals from North Korea, and prohibit the supply of aviation fuel including rocket fuel.

Szubin will also talk with officials about efforts to choke off the finances of the Islamic State jihadist group and enforcement of US sanctions that remain in place on Iran, the Treasury said.