The South China Morning Post reports the unprecedented war of words between North Korea and its main ally China has escalated, with the communist neighbors exchanging volleys through state media. In what mainland diplomatic pundits described as a sign of a deepening rift between Beijing and Pyongyang over the reclusive regime’s nuclear brinkmanship, North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency issued the first direct criticism of China in years on Wednesday, warning the nation of unspecified “grave consequences.” The commentary lashed out at People’s Daily and the Global Times as having “raised lame excuses for the base acts of dancing to the tune of the US.” The Global Times fought back on Thursday, dismissing Pyongyang’s broadside as a “hyper-aggressive” move motivated by “nationalist passion” and “irrational logic” over its dangerous nuclear armament programs. The Chinese foreign ministry weighed in, indicating relations would not be affected by the spat.
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