China supported sanctions on North Korea’s nuclear program. It’s also behind their failure

By ALAN SUDERMAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — International authorities say there’s growing evidence that shows Beijing is helping cash-strapped North Korea evade a range of international sanctions designed to hamper Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program. China has long maintained it enforces the sanctions it has supported since North Korea started testing nuclear weapons and forcefully pushed back on any suggestions to the contrary. But there is evidence of China’s help from Chinese middlemen laundering the proceeds of North Korean hackers’ cyber heists while Chinese ships deliver sanctioned North Korean goods to Chinese ports. North Korea has said U.S.-led sanctions against it are stifling its economy.