Industry sources in China say South Korean cosmetics are the latest target in an unofficial retaliation by Beijing over a missile defense dispute.

Out of 28 beauty products that recently failed to receive import approval from the Chinese government, 19 were South Korean brands.

About eleven tons of skin cream, cleansers, toothpaste and other popular South Korean products have recently been returned from Chinese ports.

China has publicly expressed its strong displeasure over South Korea's decision to deploy U.S.-provided THAAD missile defense, but experts say Beijing has retaliated in a less overt way by making it more difficult for South Korean exporters to do business in China.