Kim Jong-un criticized China for "reckless remarks" on the brewing conflict in the Korean peninsula. (Photo : Twitter)
China is trying to convince North Korea and the U.S. to go to the negotiating table and "stop irritating each other" after North Korea blamed the U.S. for pushing for a nuclear war.
The state media from Pyongyang criticized China for its push for tougher sanctions on North Korea. The U.S. is urging China to play a more active role to stop the dispute.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the U.S. is poised to attack anytime and warned that the "era of strategic patience" is over.
Geng Shuang, China's foreign ministry spokesperson, said that the situation is "highly complex," but China will take further action if North Korea persists on violating the U.N. sanction on nuclear weapons testing.
He said, "The urgent task is to lower temperatures and resume talks."
"We again urge all relevant parties to remain calm and exercise restraint, stop irritating each other, work hard to create an atmosphere for contact and dialogue between all sides, and seek a return to the correct path of dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible."
North Korea is not taking China's remarks lightly. Through the state-run Korea Central News Agency, Pyongyang expressed frustration over China's call for peace talks.
The state-run media commentary stated, "China should no longer try to test the limits of the DPRK's patience.
"China had better ponder over the grave consequences to be entailed by its reckless act of chopping down the pillar of the DPRK-China relations."
The commentary added that China released "a string of absurd and reckless remarks," which are "now heard from China every day only to render the present bad situation tenser."
U.S. President Donald Trump showed openness to start a dialogue with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un.
Trump said, "If it would be appropriate for me to meet with him, I would absolutely, I would be honored to do it."
