China says it wants to maintain friendly North Korea ties

FILE - This combination of file photos shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, on April 15, 2017 waving during a military parade to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang, North Korea, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, on April 7, 2017 smiles during a meeting with Alaska Gov. Bill Walker in Anchorage, Alaska following his meetings with President Donald Trump in Florida. North Korea issued a rare direct criticism of China Wednesday, May 3, through a commentary saying its “reckless remarks” on the North’s nuclear program are testing its patience and could trigger unspecified “grave” consequences. Previously it has couched such criticism by referring to China only as “a neighboring country.” (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, Michael Dinneen, Files) FILE - This combination of file photos shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, on April 15, 2017 waving during a military parade to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang, North Korea, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, on April 7, 2017 smiles during a meeting with Alaska Gov. Bill Walker in Anchorage, Alaska following his meetings with President Donald Trump in Florida. North Korea issued a rare direct criticism of China Wednesday, May 3, through a commentary saying its “reckless remarks” on the North’s nuclear program are testing its patience and could trigger unspecified “grave” consequences. Previously it has couched such criticism by referring to China only as “a neighboring country.” (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, Michael Dinneen, Files)

By Associated Press May 4, 2017 1 min read

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – China says it remains committed to maintaining friendly ties with North Korea, amid signs of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the remarks during a regular briefing Thursday in response to a question about a North Korean state media commentary that carried a rare, direct criticism of China.

He said Beijing’s position on “developing good neighborly and friendly cooperation with North Korea is also consistent and clear.”

The commentary released Wednesday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency said that “a string of absurd and reckless remarks” from China are testing the North’s patience and could trigger unspecified “grave” consequences.