US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (Source: AFP/VNA)

In an address on Wednesday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that Chinese companies might be sanctioned for conducting transactions with Pyongyang. He said Washington will urge countries to enforce UN Security Council sanctions, and promised more punitive measures if North Korea refuses to give up its nuclear programs.

The US has criticized China for not doing enough to implement sanctions against North Korea and that Chinese banks continue to give Pyongyang access to international financing.