The Guardian — North Korea has accused Donald Trump of raising tensions in the region and warned that the regime would conduct a nuclear test when it sees fit, as China issued a plea to Washington not to use pre-emptive military action.
In an interview with the Associated Press in Pyongyang, North Korea’s vice-foreign minister, Han Song-ryol said Trump’s “aggressive” tweets aimed at the regime were “causing trouble”, adding that the mounting crisis on the peninsula was now locked in a “vicious cycle”.
Han warned that North Korea would not “keep its arms crossed” in the event of a US pre-emptive strike.
China issued a plea against military action in North Korea before an anticipated sixth nuclear test on Saturday to mark the birth of the country’s founder, Kim Il-sung.
Speaking in Beijing, China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, said a return to the negotiating table was the only way to avert a crisis. “Military force cannot resolve the issue,” he said, according to Reuters. “Whoever provokes the situation, whoever continues to make trouble in this place, they will have to assume historical responsibility.”
Speaking in Beijing on Friday, foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said China had noted the statements coming out of Pyongyang and was closely following North Korea’s moves.
Geng said China urged”all parties” to avoid taking steps that might further inflame “a very sensitive and complex situation”.
“Such actions would be very dangerous and very irresponsible,” he warned.
Experts believe Pyongyang is preparing to defy Donald Trump by carrying out a missile launch or nuclear test to coincide with the so-called Day of the Sun on 15 April. Scores of foreign reporters have been allowed into Pyongyang to cover celebrations marking the105th anniversary of Kim’s birth, but they have not been granted access to military-related sites.
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