nuclear-news

China against North Korea having nuclear weapons

Chinese paper urges Beijing to oppose N. Korea’s nuclear power claim, SEOUL, June 3 (Yonhap) –– A leading Chinese newspaper has urged Beijing to oppose North Korea’s nuclear power status proclaimed in its revised constitution.

The Global Times, an English-language Chinese newspaper under the People’s Daily, said in its June 2 editorial that any legalization of North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons can stimulate South Korea and Japan, and prod Taiwan to demand its right to nuclear arms,
triggering a chain reaction of nuclear armament in Northeast Asia……
The Global Times editorial is the first unofficial response from China, as the Beijing government has kept mum on the issue so far.

“China should not join the two (Seoul and Washington) and help them
exert pressure on North Korea. However, it is also necessary for China
to criticize North Korea’s latest move and oppose its intention to
legalize its nuclear status,” said the editorial posted on the paper’s
Web site.

“China needs to make efforts to deter North Korea from possessing
nuclear capabilities, or at least openly oppose North Korea’s move to
attain them,” said the editorial, noting that the historical
friendship between the two should facilitate their frank
communication.

The paper went on to clearly say that it is not in China’s
interests to be held hostage by North Korea’s radical moves.

“At the moment, the most urgent thing is to prevent North Korea
from conducting a third nuclear test, the consequences of which would
be unimaginable for Northeast Asia. Besides trying to persuade North
Korea, China should publicly voice its opposition at once,” it said.
In a related development, Rep. Chung Mong-joon, a presidential
aspirant of South Korea’s ruling Saenuri Party, said Sunday that time
has come for South Korea to arm itself with nuclear weapons
capabilities in response to the North’s declaration of nuclear state
status.

“North Korea’s nuclear armament has become a reality. We should
also equip ourselves with our own nuclear weapons capabilities beyond
the strategy of depending on the U.S. for nuclear weapons,” Chung, a
seven-term lawmaker, said in a news conference.

Chung, a former ruling party chairman now competing in Saenuri’s
presidential primary, had previously called for the deployment of U.S.
tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea…….
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2012/06/03/65/0301000000AEN20120603000551315F.HTML

June 4, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | China, North Korea, politics international