Furious China lashes out at US over North Korea sanctions

'We have already lodged stern representations with the US side about this issue, and demand the US side immediately stops such relevant mistaken actions', says China's foreign ministry

The US sanctions come after Kim Jong-Un's regime carried out a series of missile tests (STR/AFP/Getty)

China has reacted angrily after several of its own companies were targeted by new US sanctions aimed at upping pressure on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear arsenal.

The United States said on Friday it was imposing its largest package of sanctions yet in a bid to convince the secretive communist state to ditch its missile programmes.

President Donald Trump warned of a "phase two" that could be "very, very unfortunate for the world" if the steps did not work.

However, Chinese authorities have lodged “stern representations” with the US over the move, which has seen shipping and energy firms in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan sanctioned.

In a statement, China's foreign ministry insisted its government had always enforced United Nations resolutions on North Korea, and did not allow any of its citizens or companies to contravene them.

It claimed the new sanctions were “harming bilateral cooperation”.

"China resolutely opposes the US side enacting unilateral sanctions and 'long-armed jurisdiction' in accordance with its domestic law against Chinese entities or individuals," the ministry said.

"We have already lodged stern representations with the US side about this issue, and demand the US side immediately stops such relevant mistaken actions."

China has repeatedly expressed opposition to any sanctions against North Korea not done within the framework of the United Nations, but maintains it was enforcing existing measures.

Figures also appear to show China is holding up its end of the bargain, after January trade with its isolated neighbour fell to the lowest level since at least June 2014.

However, it does remain North Korea's largest trading partner and sole major ally.

Latest US sanctions name two Chinese shipping firms - Weihai World-Shipping Freight and Shanghai Dongfeng Shipping Co Ltd.

The United States also named Taiwan citizen Tsang Yung Yuan and designated two of his companies in the sanctions list.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said it was in touch with the US and would investigate its citizens and entities suspected of helping North Korea.

It also called on Taiwan firms and citizens not to break UN sanctions.

The self-governed island's Justice Ministry said authorities have launched a probe into Tsang and his two companies, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency.

Additional reporting by Reuters