China's Dual Role: Supporting Sanctions on North Korea's Nuclear Program while Fueling their Failure

Evidence suggests that China is helping North Korea evade international sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear weapons program. Chinese middlemen are allegedly involved in laundering the proceeds of North Korean cyber heists, while Chinese companies assist North Korean workers in finding employment abroad. Chinese ports receive sanctioned North Korean goods, and Chinese art galleries profit from paintings created by North Korean artists. Despite claiming to enforce sanctions, China has sought to weaken them and has vetoed new restrictions on Pyongyang. The majority of individuals on the US government's sanctions list related to North Korea have ties to China, including North Koreans working for Chinese front companies and Chinese citizens involved in money laundering or procuring weapons material for North Korea. China's financial system and companies are crucial for North Korea to obtain prohibited technology and goods. China has been accused of ignoring evidence of ship-to-ship transfers and other violations of sanctions. The international community has expressed disappointment in China's commitment to upholding its UN obligations.