They were going after China’s bank which IMO is what turned the dial down.......China’s got big plans for their Silk Road Agenda where all trade roads lead to China. Their bank is primarily funding much of that.
6 days ago the Trump administration granted ‘Chinese banks’ dealing with North Korea a ‘temporary reprieve’ from threatened U.S. sanctions.
A UN report from earlier this year stated that North Korean banks and firms have ‘maintained access’ to international financial markets ‘through a network’ of Chinese-based front companies.......so there you have it.
Xi sees where this is headed if he doesn’t reign in his boy Kim. No more playing both sides for the Chinese.