Instead of adding pressure to China, experts called for the support of the United States and its allies in order to influence North Korea regarding its recent missile and nuclear tests, the Global Times reported.
"Instead of deepening rifts over the North Korean nuclear issue by pressuring China to endorse their military deployment and sanctions, the U.S. and South Korea should align themselves with China to persuade North Korea into negotiations," research fellow Lu Chao of the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences said.
Lu also cited that as China and North Korea are two independent nations, the former's persuasion of the latter to give up nuclear weapons should not be seen "as an attempt to maintain any control," the report said.
Echoing the same sentiment, senior Chinese lawmaker Fu Ying reiterated that the country makes no attempt to control its neighbor and long-time ally.
"China never believes it should control any country, nor wishes to be controlled by others," said Fu, who is also the chairwoman of the National People's Congress' Foreign Affairs Committee, in a conference.
"China will fulfill its obligations, but it cannot take over the U.S.' obligations. The U.S. should not always try to outsource its problems to China. The key to solving concerns over North Korea security lies in the Americans' hands," she added.
Meanwhile, Professor Zhou Yongsheng of the China Foreign Affairs University told the Global Times that "the U.S. and its ally South Korea should collaborate with China to bring North Korea back on track by pledging not to threaten its national security."
According to a report from South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, North Korea has established the KN-08 Bridage, a new military unit tasked to deploy an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Bloomberg cited a Pentagon statement that the missile has an estimated range of more than 5,500 kilometers--a figure capable of reaching "much of the continental U.S."
Fu also shared that the U.S. has been asking for cooperation with China while considering to grant the request of the South Korean government, who earlier sought their help for the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system.