Anchor: China is pressuring North Korea with unprecedented intensity, with state run media publications mentioning the possibility of suspending crude oil supply to the regime. Beijing’s tougher stance on its ally is triggering speculation that it may have agreed on a deal with Washington.
Our Alannah Hill has more.
 
Report: China’s state-run media outlets have recently been hitting North Korea with constant hard-line rhetoric, even mentioning the possibility it will cut off crude oil supply to the regime.
 
The Global Times, a sister paper of the Communist Party’s official newspaper the People's Daily, said that China will help the North Korean regime’s pursuit of stability and economic development if the North gives up its nuclear program. However, the newspaper also warned that if the North does not do so, the U.S. may mobilize an extreme measure against it.
 
Some Chinese military experts are asserting that even if North Korea is attacked for its continuous nuclear development, China has no obligation to defend it.
 
The South China Morning Post quoted a military analyst as saying Pyongyang’s violation of the UN nuclear non-proliferation treaty is a good enough reason for Beijing to choose not to help if U.S. forces were to invade North Korea.
 
Experts suspect that the Chinese leadership is directing state-run media or government-friendly scholars to send strong warnings to Pyongyang.
 
Such changes in China’s attitudes toward the North have been observed since U.S. President Donald Trump called Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, less than a week after they met in person for a bilateral summit in Florida.
 
Trump also said on Wednesday that he will not brand China a currency manipulator, apparently retreating from one of his core campaign pledges.
 
These moves by Washington and Beijing have spawned speculations that the two countries agreed on a deal where the U.S. eases its pressure on China regarding trade issues in return for China’s active role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.
 
The two countries are denying such speculations, saying there are no changes in their stances.
Alannah Hill, KBS World Radio News.

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