China says North Korea tension
has to be stopped from
reaching 'irreversible' stage
| BEIJING/PYONGYANG
China said on Friday tension over North Korea had to be stopped from reaching
an "irreversible and unmanageable stage" as a U.S. aircraft carrier group steamed
toward the region amid fears the North may conduct a sixth nuclear weapons test.
an "irreversible and unmanageable stage" as a U.S. aircraft carrier group steamed
toward the region amid fears the North may conduct a sixth nuclear weapons test.
Concern has grown since the U.S. Navy fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian
airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack, raising questions about
U.S. President Donald Trump's plans for North Korea, which has conducted
missile and nuclear tests in defiance of U.N. and unilateral sanctions.
airfield last week in response to a deadly gas attack, raising questions about
U.S. President Donald Trump's plans for North Korea, which has conducted
missile and nuclear tests in defiance of U.N. and unilateral sanctions.
The United States has warned that a policy of "strategic patience" is over.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence travels to South Korea on Sunday on a
long-planned 10-day trip to Asia.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence travels to South Korea on Sunday on a
long-planned 10-day trip to Asia.
China, North Korea's sole major ally and neighbor which nevertheless opposes
its weapons program, has called for talks leading to the denuclearization of
the Korean peninsula.
its weapons program, has called for talks leading to the denuclearization of
the Korean peninsula.
"We call on all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other,
whether in words or actions, and not let the situation get to an irreversible and
unmanageable stage," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing.
whether in words or actions, and not let the situation get to an irreversible and
unmanageable stage," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Beijing.
North Korea denounced the United States for bringing "huge nuclear strategic
assets" to the region as the Carl Vinson strike group with a flag-ship nuclear-
powered aircraft carrier steamed closer, and said it stood ready to strike back.
assets" to the region as the Carl Vinson strike group with a flag-ship nuclear-
powered aircraft carrier steamed closer, and said it stood ready to strike back.
"The Trump administration, which made a surprise guided cruise-missile strike
on Syria on April 6, has entered the path of open threat and blackmail," the
North's KCNA news agency quoted the military as saying in a statement.
on Syria on April 6, has entered the path of open threat and blackmail," the
North's KCNA news agency quoted the military as saying in a statement.
"The army and people of the DPRK will as ever courageously counter those
who encroach upon the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK and will always
mercilessly ravage all provocative options of the U.S. with Korean-style
toughest counteraction."
who encroach upon the dignity and sovereignty of the DPRK and will always
mercilessly ravage all provocative options of the U.S. with Korean-style
toughest counteraction."
DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea.
of Korea.
North Korea, still technically at war with the South after their 1950-53
conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, has on occasion conducted missile or
nuclear tests to coincide with big political events and often threatens the
United States, South Korea and Japan.
conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty, has on occasion conducted missile or
nuclear tests to coincide with big political events and often threatens the
United States, South Korea and Japan.
On Saturday, it marks the "Day of the Sun", the 105th anniversary of the
birth of state founder Kim Il Sung.
birth of state founder Kim Il Sung.
U.S. ally South Korea warned against any North Korean "provocation", such
as a nuclear or missile test.
as a nuclear or missile test.
"There is certain to be powerful punitive measure that will be difficult for the
North Korean regime to endure," the South's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
North Korean regime to endure," the South's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
While Trump has put North Korea on notice that he will not tolerate any more
provocation, U.S. officials have said his administration is focusing its strategy
on tougher economic sanctions.
provocation, U.S. officials have said his administration is focusing its strategy
on tougher economic sanctions.
Trump said on Thursday North Korea was a problem that "will be taken care of"
and he believed Chinese President Xi Jinping would "work very hard" to help
resolve it.
and he believed Chinese President Xi Jinping would "work very hard" to help
resolve it.
Trump has also said the United States is prepared to tackle the crisis without
China, if necessary.
China, if necessary.
He diverted the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its strike group toward the
Korean peninsula last weekend in a show of force. (tmsnrt.rs/2p1yGTQ)
Korean peninsula last weekend in a show of force. (tmsnrt.rs/2p1yGTQ)
Trump has also been pressing China to do more to rein in North Korea.
China banned all imports of North Korean coal on Feb. 26 under U.N.
sanctions, cutting off the North's most important export, and on Friday,
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said national airline Air China was
suspending flights to Pyongyang.
sanctions, cutting off the North's most important export, and on Friday,
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said national airline Air China was
suspending flights to Pyongyang.
It did not say why the flights, which operate on Monday, Wednesday and
Friday, were being suspended and Air China could not be reached for comment.
Friday, were being suspended and Air China could not be reached for comment.
Worry about North Korean aggression has also led to a deterioration of ties
between China and South Korea because China objects to the deployment
of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system
in the South.
between China and South Korea because China objects to the deployment
of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system
in the South.
"It's not hard to see that ever since the United States and
Republic of Korea decided to deploy THAAD, the
situation has not become harmonious but has become
more tense," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman
Geng Shuang, said in response to a question about
the system.
Republic of Korea decided to deploy THAAD, the
situation has not become harmonious but has become
more tense," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman
Geng Shuang, said in response to a question about
the system.
South Korea and the United States say the sole purpose
of the THAAD is to guard against North Korean missiles,
but China says that its powerful radar could penetrate
its territory.
of the THAAD is to guard against North Korean missiles,
but China says that its powerful radar could penetrate
its territory.
The dollar fell on Friday against a basket of currencies,
on track for a losing week as tension over North Korea
underpinned the perceived safe-haven Japanese yen.
on track for a losing week as tension over North Korea
underpinned the perceived safe-haven Japanese yen.
Japan's Nikkei business daily said the government had
discussed how to rescue an estimated 57,000 Japanese
citizens in South Korea as well as how to cope with a
possible flood of North Korean refugees coming to
Japan, among whom might be spies.
discussed how to rescue an estimated 57,000 Japanese
citizens in South Korea as well as how to cope with a
possible flood of North Korean refugees coming to
Japan, among whom might be spies.
In Pyongyang, retired soldier Ho Song Chol told Reuters that North Korea
would win should there be any conflict with the United States.
would win should there be any conflict with the United States.
"We don't think about other things, we just live in our belief that we will win as
long as our Supreme Leader is with us," Ho said, referring to Kim Jong Un.
long as our Supreme Leader is with us," Ho said, referring to Kim Jong Un.
Kang Gil-won, a 26-year-old graduate living in Seoul, said his biggest concern
was not North Korea, but finding work in a tough job market.
was not North Korea, but finding work in a tough job market.
"There’s no concern that war is going to break out tomorrow," he told Reuters
at a "study café" where many job seekers prepare for interviews.
at a "study café" where many job seekers prepare for interviews.
"Getting a job is a war that I feel in my bones."
(Additional reporting by Nick Macfie, James Pearson, Ju-min Park and Jack
Kim in SEOUL, Natalie Thomas in Pyongyang, Linda Sieg in TOKYO and
Michael Martina and Christian Shepherd in BEIJING; Writing by Nick Macfie;
Editing by Robert Birsel)
Kim in SEOUL, Natalie Thomas in Pyongyang, Linda Sieg in TOKYO and
Michael Martina and Christian Shepherd in BEIJING; Writing by Nick Macfie;
Editing by Robert Birsel)
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