China, North Korea exchange war of words through media

BEIJING, April 8 (UPI) -- North Korea and China are exchanging grievances through state media, as Beijing remains staunchly opposed to Pyongyang's decision to pursue nuclear weapons.

China's state-owned newspaper People's Daily said in an editorial that in the event of instability on the Korean peninsula, owing to the "nuclear problem," a security threat "greater than the Syria crisis" could take place.

Pyongyang's nuclear weapons strategy could ultimately put the regime in danger and North Korea needs to rethink its policies, the People's Daily stated.

But the criticism of North Korea could be a response to an indirect verbal attack from Pyongyang, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

While not calling China out by name, North Korea's state news agency KCNA had slammed a country on April 1 for "subservience" to the United States in the face of "superpower pressure."

Pyongyang claimed the country was discarding a valuable friendship, a collaboration that was bonded in blood.

China's Global Times has dismissed the North Korean criticism. In a recent editorial, the state tabloid had suggested it would be an "exaggeration" to say bilateral relations have changed, adding new sanctions on the North does not contradict the friendship between the two countries.

The editorial also stated it would be more challenging for China to manage the stability of Northeast Asia if Pyongyang doesn't heed the warnings against nuclear weapons development.

The People's Daily went further to state North Korea has neither the intention nor the ability to wage war, and added Pyongyang's maneuvers are designed to incite anti-U.S. sentiment.