(Yicai Global) Sept. 29 -- China's decision to import coal from North Korea conformed to regulations outlined by the United Nations Security Council and the country's own foreign trade policies, Gao Feng, spokesman for Cina's Ministry of Commerce, said at a press briefing yesterday.

The world's second largest economy will continue to operate in line with its own laws and international obligations, he added.

China has cooperated with the UN's North Korea-based decisions all along, Gao said. In line with Resolution 2371, the United Nations' response to North Korea's ballistic missile tests in July, China's regulators have banned imports of partial mineral and marine products from the country.

However, the UN's outlines allow for imports that had already arrived at ports before the ban to enter the destination country within a certain time frame, Gao added.

He didn't give further details.

China imported around 1.63 million tons of anthracitic coal last month, according to data published by the country's General Administration of Customs on Sept. 26.