THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: China does not accept N. Korea as a nuclear state

South Korea and China have strongly reaffirmed their stance against North Korea's recent missile provocations and its ongoing nuclear program. During the meeting with South Korean PM Hwang Kyo-an in Beijing, Chinese president Xi Jinping reaffirms stance that China does not accept N. Korea as a nuclear state, nor its so-called Byungjin policy, which is developing its economy and nuclear arms at the same time. He added that China is fully abiding by the latest UN Security Council resolution and has submitted a report on how they are implementing sanctions on the North.

Later, a top US official has warned that without US protection of Asian allies, even advanced countries like Japan and South Korea would seek their own nuclear weapons. US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken said such scenario would trigger "regional nuclear arms races", which the US government has been pouring efforts into preventing for decades. Blinken insists the world would be safer for Americans by having South Korea and Japan under the US nuclear umbrella.

Meanwhile, the 2016 Rimpac naval exercise has begun on Hawaii. Over 27 nations are taking part in the largest exercise to date. South Korea has deployed 700 navy personnel's along with warships. The exercises will run through the 4th of August.

Source: Arirang News