Beijing, Feb 21 .- China said Tuesday it will continue to impose sanctions against North Korea to implement in its entirety the latest United Nations Security Council resolution in response to North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

The warning comes after Beijing suspended coal imports from the hermit kingdom last week.

Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday that China is making sincere efforts to complying with its international obligations, but did not provide details about the new measures against Pyongyang.

China cut off one of the few supplies of foreign capital into North Korea, its traditional ally, by banning coal purchases from that country.

The move came into effect on Sunday, Feb. 19 and will expire on Dec. 31 this year.

The decision follows the UN Security Council's Resolution 2321, which was approved in late November, according to a joint statement by the Ministry of Commerce and the country's General Administration of Customs.

In December, despite the UN resolution, Chinese coal imports from North Korea increased.

However, Gao attributed this to a delay in local laws adapting to international rulings.

Gao stressed China's sincerity to fulfill its international obligations, saying his country will continue to take measures as per its obligations stipulated in the UN Security Council resolution. EFE