China changes tone, not interests, on N. Korea
- Published: 26 Jan 2013 at 05.45
- Online news: Asia
China's unusually forceful criticism of North Korea shows the rising power is eager to distance itself from a pariah, but experts doubt Beijing would ultimately put the regime's survival at risk.
A North Korean guard post on the top of a hill is seen from a South Korean observation post in Paju near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas on January 25, 2013. China's unusually forceful criticism of North Korea shows the rising power is eager to distance itself from a pariah, but experts doubt Beijing would ultimately put the regime's survival at risk.
The Global Times, a state-run newspaper close to China's ruling Communist Party, said in an editorial that if North Korea goes ahead with plans to test a nuclear bomb, Beijing "will not hesitate to reduce its assistance."
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