The South Korean government believes that China is taking the risk of a third North Korean nuclear test more seriously than in the two previous instances of such tests in 2006 and 2009.
A high-ranking South Korean government official told reporters on the 6th, “China is well aware of the graveness of a possible North Korean nuclear test and its aftermath. They seem to be taking it very seriously.”
“China has publicly stated on a number of occasions through a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson that a nuclear test is not acceptable,” the official explained. “This is not merely rhetoric.
“In its own manner, China is continuing to try and persuade North Korea to stop the test. They will continue to do so until the last minute. They appear to be employing a number of methods, including some that we cannot see.”
However, the official was unable to confirm what these methods might be, and could not add to previous reports that the Chinese government has dispatched a delegation to Pyongyang to reinforce China’s opposition to any test, repeating simply that “China is continually trying in its own way to stop the test.”
“We’ll have to wait and see what kind of result or effect the Chinese effort will bring about,” the official added.
