North Korea depends on China for almost all its oil and gas but estimates of its consumption are low, leaving it unclear how Beijing's new limit will affect them. That would be the equivalent of almost 5.5 million barrels of crude and 2.2 million barrels of refined products for the full year. Russia urged calm on Friday after US President Donald Trump called North Korean leader Kim Jong-un a "madman". Trump announced unilateral US sanctions on Thursday that would allow the targeting of companies and institutions that finance and facilitate trade with North Korea. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said banks doing business in North Korea would not be allowed to operate in the United States.

Source: Bangkok Post September 23, 2017 07:14 UTC