Since taking office US president Donald Trump has been pushing China to do more to convince North Korea to stop its nuclear missile testing. The US continues to send out strong warnings to Pyongyang, China has always urged restraint.
Katrina Yu believes that China continues to support North Korea because it is in China's interest to do so. It does not want to war and a unified pro-American Korea right on its doorstep.
China does not report its oil shipments to North Korea but South Korea believes it supplies about 500,000 tons every year.
Pulling out the crude oil can be the last resort to force North Korea but Chian is not yet willing to do so.
Katrina Yu interviews one of the first westerners given privileged access inside the North Korean government to see some different insight.
Michael Harrold was hired as an English language adviser to North Koreas then great leader Kim Il-sung in 1987.
The first Briton to be employed by Pyongyang is one of the few westerners to have access to the countrys ruling elite.
He spoke to SBS World News from Beijing where he now works as a senior editor at Chinas state broadcaster CGTN.
The SBS Korean program has more.
