North Korea tensions: China tells both sides to ‘stop irritating’ one another

China has called on all parties in the Korean standoff to stay calm and “stop irritating each other” a day after North Korea said the United States was pushing the region to the brink of nuclear war.

Key points:

• China is urging all parties to ‘lower temperatures and resume talks’
• US bombers conducted training drills with South Korea and Japan
• North Korea said the US has put the region on the brink of nuclear war

The United States has urged China, reclusive North Korea’s lone major ally, to do more to rein in its neighbour’s nuclear and missile programmes which have prompted an assertive response from the Trump administration, warning that the “era of strategic patience” is over.

The United States has sent a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Korean waters and a pair of strategic US bombers flew training drills with the South Korean and Japanese air forces in another show of strength this week.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, asked about the bomber flights, the drills and North Korea’s response, stressed that the situation was “highly complex” and sensitive.

Source: North Korea tensions: China tells all sides to ‘stop irritating’ one another – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)