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China has condemned what it described as North Korea's “brazen” nuclear test, although it urged the international community to react calmly and peacefully.
Using unusually harsh language against its close ally, China demanded North Korea take no further steps to destabilize the region following Pyongyang's announcement of a successful test of a nuclear weapon on Monday morning.
“The DPRK (North Korea), ignoring the general opposition of the international community, brazenly undertook a nuclear test,” a foreign ministry statement said Monday.
“The Chinese government expresses its resolute opposition.
“China strongly demands the DPRK side undertake its commitments to the non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and stop all actions that can lead to the deterioration of the situation.”
However China also called on other nations to react peacefully to Pyongyang's nuclear test and continue diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.
“The Chinese government calls on all sides to deal with this calmly and seek consultations to peacefully resolve the issue. The Chinese side will continue to make unremitting efforts towards this end,” it said.
China has been Pyongyang's main ally for more than half a century, a relationship sealed in blood when Chinese troops fought alongside North Koreans against US and South Korean troops in the 1950-53 Korean War.
China is believed to be the nation with the most influence on Pyongyang and a South Korean government official said North Korea had informed Beijing 20 minutes beforehand that it would carry out the test.
Beijing in turn immediately alerted South Korea and other countries, the official in Seoul told AFP on condition of anonymity. China's foreign ministry did not respond to requests for confirmation on the report.
Along with South Korea, China has argued against a hard-line response to North Korea's brinkmanship during the three-year nuclear standoff.
China has steadfastly refused to entertain the idea of economic sanctions against North Korea and instead promoted diplomacy.
China has since 2003 been the host of six-nation talks — involving the two Koreas, China, the United States, Japan and Russia — that are aimed at reining in Pyongyang's nuclear program.
North Korea pulled out of the talks in November last year, blaming its decision on financial sanctions imposed against the country by the United States over money-laundering and counterfeiting allegations.
China again called on North Korea on Monday to return to the six-party talks.
However analysts said China's approach to North Korea was now in tatters.
“No country should be more embarrassed and more concerned than China,” said Ralph Cossa, of the Pacific Forum CSIS, a think-tank in Hawaii.
He said that China and South Korea's refusal to take a tougher line against the North had ensured that a unified international response against North Korea had never been achieved.
“South Korea and China have seen things differently and there has never been a message sent to North Korea from the rest of the world speaking with a single voice,” he said.
