Anchor: Beijing has launched crack downs against North Korean restaurants in China, following its ban on illegal operations of North Korean banks within its borders. The unprecedented move by China may be part of its punitive actions against the North in response to the communist state’s third nuclear test. Jang Souie has this report.

Report: North Korea watchers say China’s police, customs authorities and food safety officials began cracking down on North Korean restaurants in Beijing and three provinces bordering North Korea.

Authorities are conducting random crack downs on North Korean restaurants to see whether any of their workers are illegal residents, if they are authorized to import North Korean-made alcohol and cigarettes, and if they are selling unauthorized drugs and health foods such as Viagra.

They also scrutinized whether high-quality Chinese alcoholic beverages sold at North Korean restaurants such as Mao Tai Jiu are authentic.

North Korean restaurants were found to have violated regulations in order to reduce operation costs and maximize their profits.

Such a massive and systematic crack down against North Korean restaurants is an unprecedented move by China.

Analysts say China has not taken an active stance against such illegal practices in the past despite being aware of them considering the two sides’ special relationship. However, the stringent investigations have been launched in line with the Chinese government’s guidelines.

The Chinese government has ordered police, customs authorities, financial experts and military officials since around February or March to strictly implement UN Security Council resolution 2087 in response to Pyongyang’s long-range rocket launch in December.

Ever since, China has been pressuring North Korea in various fronts, including immigration control, freight customs clearance, and finance.

Jang Souie, KBS World Radio News.