... China has a dilemma... "Beijing (ANTARA News) - North Korea's sole major ally China will decrease aid to Pyongyang if it goes ahead with a planned nuclear test, state-run media said in an unusually frank warning on Friday.
China is the North Korea's leading energy supplier and trade partner and is seen as one of the few nations able to influence Pyongyang`s behaviour, with the comments adding a distinctive edge to its typical official calls for stability and dialogue.
"If North Korea engages in further nuclear tests, China will not hesitate to reduce its assistance to North Korea," the Global Times said in an editorial.
"Just let North Korea be 'angry'. We can`t sit by and do nothing just because we are worried it might impact the Sino-North Korean relationship."
The same comments appeared in the Chinese version of the article. The paper is owned by the People`s Daily, the official mouthpiece of the ruling party, and normally takes a nationalistic tone on foreign relations.
The editorial came after Pyongyang reacted furiously to a UN Security Council resolution this week condemning its rocket launch last month and imposing expanded sanctions.
It vowed to boost its nuclear arsenal and to conduct a third nuclear test and more long-range rocket launches in an all-out action against its sworn US enemy.
"China has a dilemma: there's no possible way for us to search for a diplomatic balance between North Korea and South Korea, Japan and the US," the Global Times said, seemingly distancing itself from Pyongyang.
(H-RN)
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
