China has sent a flotilla of North Korean freighters loaded with coking coal back to their home ports, according to an exclusive Reuters report. Reuters attributed news of China’s rejecting North Korean coal to a trading source at Dandong Chengtai Trade Co., which is the biggest buyer of North Korea's coal. China said in February it was suspending North Korean imports for the rest of this year. As it halts imports of North Korean coal, China is increasing the amount of coal it buys from U.S. producers, Reuters said. Buying U.S. coking coal marks a U-turn for China: No U.S. coking coal was exported to China between late 2014 and 2016.

Source: Fox News April 11, 2017 17:48 UTC