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| North Korean Media, in Rare Critique of China, Says Nuclear Program Will Continue | North Korean Media, in Rare Critique of China, Says Nuclear Program Will Continue |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| SEOUL, South Korea — In a rare and surprisingly pointed criticism of China, North Korea’s state-run news agency warned in a commentary that the country would continue its nuclear weapons program even if it risked losing a friendly relationship with its longtime ally. | SEOUL, South Korea — In a rare and surprisingly pointed criticism of China, North Korea’s state-run news agency warned in a commentary that the country would continue its nuclear weapons program even if it risked losing a friendly relationship with its longtime ally. |
| The angry commentary, attributed to a writer named Kim Chol and carried by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday, came as President Trump was pressing China to increase the enforcement of sanctions against its neighbor to contain its nuclear and long-range missile programs. | The angry commentary, attributed to a writer named Kim Chol and carried by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday, came as President Trump was pressing China to increase the enforcement of sanctions against its neighbor to contain its nuclear and long-range missile programs. |
| “One must clearly understand that the D.P.R.K.’s line of access to nukes for the existence and development of the country can neither be changed nor shaken,” the commentary said, referring to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the North’s official name. “And that the D.P.R.K. will never beg for the maintenance of friendship with China, risking its nuclear program which is as precious as its own life, no matter how valuable the friendship is.” | “One must clearly understand that the D.P.R.K.’s line of access to nukes for the existence and development of the country can neither be changed nor shaken,” the commentary said, referring to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the North’s official name. “And that the D.P.R.K. will never beg for the maintenance of friendship with China, risking its nuclear program which is as precious as its own life, no matter how valuable the friendship is.” |
| It is unusual for the state news media of North Korea to issue such a direct criticism of China, which accounts for 90 percent of its external trade and provides almost all of the country’s oil imports. | It is unusual for the state news media of North Korea to issue such a direct criticism of China, which accounts for 90 percent of its external trade and provides almost all of the country’s oil imports. |
| “China should no longer try to test the limits of the D.P.R.K.’s patience,” the commentary said, adding ominously, “China had better ponder over the grave consequences to be entailed by its reckless act of chopping down the pillar of the D.P.R.K.-China relations.” | “China should no longer try to test the limits of the D.P.R.K.’s patience,” the commentary said, adding ominously, “China had better ponder over the grave consequences to be entailed by its reckless act of chopping down the pillar of the D.P.R.K.-China relations.” |
| A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Geng Shuang, sounded conciliatory when asked about the commentary at a regular news briefing on Thursday. “China’s position on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula is consistent and clear, and so is our position on developing good-neighborly and friendly relations with the D.P.R.K.,” Mr. Geng said. | A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Geng Shuang, sounded conciliatory when asked about the commentary at a regular news briefing on Thursday. “China’s position on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula is consistent and clear, and so is our position on developing good-neighborly and friendly relations with the D.P.R.K.,” Mr. Geng said. |
| The commentary was published as a rebuttal to a series of commentaries and editorials in the state-controlled Chinese news media, including Global Times, which had criticized the North’s nuclear weapons program and called for Beijing to cut off oil supplies if the North conducted another nuclear test. On Thursday, Global Times responded to the KCNA piece, saying the North was “grappling with some form of irrational logic” over its weapons programs. | The commentary was published as a rebuttal to a series of commentaries and editorials in the state-controlled Chinese news media, including Global Times, which had criticized the North’s nuclear weapons program and called for Beijing to cut off oil supplies if the North conducted another nuclear test. On Thursday, Global Times responded to the KCNA piece, saying the North was “grappling with some form of irrational logic” over its weapons programs. |
| The North Korean commentary accused the Chinese news media of carrying “lame excuses for the base acts of dancing to the tune of the U.S.” and “calling for slapping harsher sanctions against the D.P.R.K. in order to avert a war which would bring danger to China.” | The North Korean commentary accused the Chinese news media of carrying “lame excuses for the base acts of dancing to the tune of the U.S.” and “calling for slapping harsher sanctions against the D.P.R.K. in order to avert a war which would bring danger to China.” |
| It also argued that China should recognize North Korea’s value as a buffer against American military influence in the region. | It also argued that China should recognize North Korea’s value as a buffer against American military influence in the region. |
| “China should acknowledge in an honest manner that the D.P.R.K. has just contributed to protecting peace and security of China, foiling the U.S. scheme for aggression by waging a hard fight in the front line of the showdown with the U.S. for more than seven decades, and thank the D.P.R.K. for it,” it said. “Some theorists of China are spouting a load of nonsense that the D.P.R.K.’s access to nukes strains the situation in Northeast Asia and offers the U.S. an excuse for beefing up its strategic assets in the region.” | “China should acknowledge in an honest manner that the D.P.R.K. has just contributed to protecting peace and security of China, foiling the U.S. scheme for aggression by waging a hard fight in the front line of the showdown with the U.S. for more than seven decades, and thank the D.P.R.K. for it,” it said. “Some theorists of China are spouting a load of nonsense that the D.P.R.K.’s access to nukes strains the situation in Northeast Asia and offers the U.S. an excuse for beefing up its strategic assets in the region.” |
| In February, KCNA carried another commentary bitterly critical of China after Beijing announced that it was suspending all coal imports from North Korea for the rest of the year. But at the time, it did not mention China by name. Last month, another KCNA piece, again without mentioning China by name, attacked it for “dancing to the tune of the U.S.” | In February, KCNA carried another commentary bitterly critical of China after Beijing announced that it was suspending all coal imports from North Korea for the rest of the year. But at the time, it did not mention China by name. Last month, another KCNA piece, again without mentioning China by name, attacked it for “dancing to the tune of the U.S.” |
| The commentary on Wednesday did not directly attack the government or the Communist Party of China, instead criticizing “commentaries” and “some ignorant politicians and media persons” in China. But it pointedly noted that these opinions were carried in publications “widely known as media speaking for the official stand of the Chinese party and government” and accused China of “insincerity and betrayal.” | The commentary on Wednesday did not directly attack the government or the Communist Party of China, instead criticizing “commentaries” and “some ignorant politicians and media persons” in China. But it pointedly noted that these opinions were carried in publications “widely known as media speaking for the official stand of the Chinese party and government” and accused China of “insincerity and betrayal.” |
| In the North Korean state media, a commentary by an individual writer does not carry as much weight as an official government statement. But such bylined commentaries closely follow an official script, and the government in Pyongyang often uses them to voice its view indirectly. | |
| Kim Chol’s commentary is the latest sign that North Korea fears China will acquiesce to American pressure for more vigorous sanctions enforcement, especially after Mr. Trump’s summit meeting last month with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. Last month, The Associated Press reported from Pyongyang that drivers were scrambling to fill their tanks as gas stations began limiting services, an apparent response to reports that Beijing might use its oil supplies as leverage to force North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons. | Kim Chol’s commentary is the latest sign that North Korea fears China will acquiesce to American pressure for more vigorous sanctions enforcement, especially after Mr. Trump’s summit meeting last month with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. Last month, The Associated Press reported from Pyongyang that drivers were scrambling to fill their tanks as gas stations began limiting services, an apparent response to reports that Beijing might use its oil supplies as leverage to force North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons. |
| The KCNA commentary on Wednesday was the North’s most bitter and categorical criticism of China in recent memory, said Cheong Seong-chang, a longtime North Korea analyst at the Sejong Institute, a South Korean think tank. | |
| “It has been a long-established tradition between North Korea and China that even if they held grudges against each other, they didn’t voice them in public,” Mr. Cheong said. “This shows that the current North Korea-China relations are bad enough for both sides to break that tradition.” | “It has been a long-established tradition between North Korea and China that even if they held grudges against each other, they didn’t voice them in public,” Mr. Cheong said. “This shows that the current North Korea-China relations are bad enough for both sides to break that tradition.” |
| Analysts also cautioned that a vituperation from the North could also be a face-saving gesture ahead of a possible compromise, though the commentary on Wednesday was only an extension of the country’s defiant tone. On Monday, a spokesman for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said that the recent tensions with the United States had only strengthened its resolve to “speed up at the maximum pace the measure for bolstering its nuclear deterrence.” | Analysts also cautioned that a vituperation from the North could also be a face-saving gesture ahead of a possible compromise, though the commentary on Wednesday was only an extension of the country’s defiant tone. On Monday, a spokesman for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said that the recent tensions with the United States had only strengthened its resolve to “speed up at the maximum pace the measure for bolstering its nuclear deterrence.” |
| Mr. Cheong said that to avoid economic overdependence on China, North Korea would try to strengthen ties with Russia and South Korea, where a liberal candidate more supportive of dialogue and economic exchanges with the North was likely to win a presidential election next Tuesday. | Mr. Cheong said that to avoid economic overdependence on China, North Korea would try to strengthen ties with Russia and South Korea, where a liberal candidate more supportive of dialogue and economic exchanges with the North was likely to win a presidential election next Tuesday. |
| It has been a long-running strategy of North Korea to drive a wedge between the powers surrounding it and find room for maneuvering in the rift. | It has been a long-running strategy of North Korea to drive a wedge between the powers surrounding it and find room for maneuvering in the rift. |
| Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol of North Korea met with the Russian ambassador in Pyongyang on Sunday, and both sides “agreed to boost cooperation in various fields in line with the longstanding friendly relations,” KCNA reported. A North Korean delegation also visited the Russian Far East last month to discuss cooperation, according to the North Korean news agency. | Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol of North Korea met with the Russian ambassador in Pyongyang on Sunday, and both sides “agreed to boost cooperation in various fields in line with the longstanding friendly relations,” KCNA reported. A North Korean delegation also visited the Russian Far East last month to discuss cooperation, according to the North Korean news agency. |
| Analysts in South Korea have said that North Korea was trying to import more Russian oil to lessen its fuel dependence on China. The North is also believed to send workers to Russia to earn foreign currency. | Analysts in South Korea have said that North Korea was trying to import more Russian oil to lessen its fuel dependence on China. The North is also believed to send workers to Russia to earn foreign currency. |