Trump administration cranks up pressure on Pyongyang

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Amid the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Washington announced a new round of unilateral sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday. The new sanctions targeted banks and individuals linked to DPRK's financial networks.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit China from Thursday to Saturday. Topics of discussion are expected to include the crisis over DPRK's nuclear and missile programs, as well as bilateral trade between China and the US.

"The US side, apparently, wants to carry out more dialogue with (China) in an effort to verify if the Chinese government has really carried out its promise to cut off the banking links between China and the DPRK," said Liu Youfa, former president of the China Institute of International Studies.

The US last month slapped sanctions on 16 Chinese and Russian individuals and companies, accusing them of supporting DPRK's nuclear program and attempting to evade US sanctions.

Regardless, Liu said economic cooperation will still dominate the agenda of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump at their meeting this November.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan at Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, US, April 6, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Tillerson's visit with senior Chinese officials would also lay the groundwork for Trump's subsequent visit to China, said State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert at a regular news briefing.

This will be the second summit between the two leaders, who had previously met for talks at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, this April.