[Yonhap News Photo]
North Korea's state media has carried a rare commentary blasting China for crossing a "red line" in their traditional friendship to side with the United States in imposing tough sanctions, warning Beijing against testing the limits of Pyongyang's patience.
The commentary written by Kim Chol and published by Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency expressed anger at China's official media which called for harsh sanctions, describing the North's nuclear tests as a threat to national interests of its neighbor.
China is North Korea's only major ally, but their relations have become strained since leader Kim Jong-un came to power in late 2011. Chinese officials have voiced growing frustration with Kim's push for nuclear and ballistic missile programs, promising to comply with a UN resolution that focused on drying up Pyongyang's foreign currency earnings.
The North's commentary slammed Beijing for infringing on the "dignity, interests and sovereignty" of its ally and urged Chinese newspapers to refrain from making "reckless remarks" undermining relations between the two countries.
"They shifted the blame for the deteriorated relations between the DPRK (North Korea) and China onto the DPRK and raised lame excuses for the base acts of dancing to the tune of the US," it said in an English version.
"This is just a wanton violation of the independent and legitimate rights, dignity and supreme interests of the DPRK and, furthermore, constitutes an undisguised threat to an honest-minded neighboring country which has a long history and tradition of friendship."
The commentary accused China of hyping up damage caused by North Korea's nuclear tests in its northeastern provinces. "This only reveals the ulterior purpose sought by it, being displeased with the DPRK's rapid development of nukes."
"One must clearly understand that the DPRK's line of access to nukes for the existence and development of the country can neither be changed nor shaken," it said, adding Pyongyang would 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".
The commentary argued that Beijing should no longer try to test the limits of Pyongyang's patience.
Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
