US lawmakers say China helping N Korea bypass sanctions

US congressmen accused China of undermining international efforts to halt Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program by funneling hard currency to North Korea, the South China Morning Post reports. Responding to the allegations, Washington’s ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said she would support “secondary sanctions” to stop North Korea’s military from producing a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile, a move that would target Chinese companies helping to funnel hard currency to its neighbor. Secondary sanctions target companies or organizations conducting any kind of exchanges with countries already subject to punitive UN Security Council resolutions. The Congressional hearing was called to learn how the lawmaking body should evaluate funding for the US mission at the UN and how Haley can encourage more cooperation from other UN members on priorities including North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and efforts to fight against terrorist organizations like ISIS and Hamas.