Chinese newspaper supplies tips on nuclear war, evacuation

Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Chinese state media are becoming more vocal about the dangers of a nuclear conflict near China, and one newspaper filled an entire page with advice on how to evacuate in the event of an explosion.

Jilin Daily, a newspaper in northeast China, published the article on Wednesday, covering issues related to self-protection against nuclear radiation, South Korean news service News 1 reported.

The article, however, excluded any references to North Korea, or why a nuclear explosion or radiation leak could be an issue in a region bordering the Kim Jong Un regime.

The publication did state people who are situated outside buildings must hide in ditches or take the plunge into lakes or rivers in the event of a nuclear explosion.

Jilin Daily also advised readers to cover any exposed skin with colored clothing.

Diagrams were included in the article with instructions on how to wash off radioactive material from the body.

Allusions to Hiroshima were also made. More than 70,000 people were killed and more than 80 percent of buildings destroyed during the atomic bombing, the Chinese newspaper stated.

The unusual report on nuclear attacks in Chinese media comes at a time when North Korea has not stopped testing weapons, and South Korea has begun screening North Korean defectors for radiation exposure.

China has been at odds with the United States over the best way to approach the North and denuclearization.

Beijing has advocated a "freeze-for-freeze" approach, and has stated joint military exercises in South Korea are increasing tensions with the North.

The United States has called for and have implemented sanctions against North Korea, a move that is squeezing the regime's energy supply.

A new report from 38 North indicates North Korea is turning to coal-fired power plants to generate electricity, in order to address chronic power shortages.

"Recent commercial satellite imagery shows that this project is nearing completion and could start producing energy in the next few months," says U.S. analyst Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.