ANGER OVER COAL BAN
North Korea lambasts China for siding with foes
North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests — including two in 2016 — although its claims to be able to miniaturise a nuclear weapon to be mounted on a missile have never been verified independently
North Korea issued a rare reproach of China on Thursday, saying that its main diplomatic backer was "dancing to the tune" of the US for halting North Korean coal imports because of its nuclear and missile programmes. Pyongyang’s state-run KCNA news agency did not refer to China by name but in an unmistakable censure it accused a "neighbouring country" of going along with North Korea’s enemies to "bring down its social system". "This country, styling itself a big power, is dancing to the tune of the US, while defending its mean behaviour with such excuses that it was meant not to have a negative impact on the living of the people … but to check its nuclear programme," KCNA said in a commentary. "It has unhesitatingly taken inhumane steps such as totally blocking foreign trade related to the improvement of people’s living standard under the plea of the UN," it said. China said on Saturday that it would ban coal imports from North Korea until the end of 2017. The ban came about a week ...
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