China could halt oil supply to N.Korea if nuke test proceeds . FEBRUARY 07, 2013 21:50. . China has expressed strong opposition to North Korea’s planned third nuclear test several times, albeit indirectly, but what Beijing’s strongest sanction would be if Pyongyang proceeded with the test is fueling speculation.

Experts say reducing crude supply, on which the North almost entirely depends, is China`s most direct and realistic sanction.

“China is considering various measures to pressure the North, and one of them is likely to be limiting oil supply,” a source on the Stalinist country said.

China’s oil supply to the North is made through the Basan oil storage center near Dandong, Liaoning Province. Without being looked at closely, the center looks like an ordinary one in a rural area but is likely a key military facility not even marked on maps. A military unit believed to of the company level is stationed at the facility.

A Dong-A Ilbo reporter on Thursday arrived at the facility, which is about 30 minutes away from Dandong by car, and saw military personnel well principled as troops who were apparently on leave were marching in a column of five even outside the base. Watch posts were installed around about 10 white oil tanks, with soldiers standing on guard 24 hours a day.

A nearby mountain was bald with trees cut off to create an open area for better guard duty.

A resident of the area stopped the Dong-A reporter from taking photos, saying the the area was off limits to outsiders and had surveillance cameras installed.