Top Chinese diplomat visits North Korea

09/12/10 16:25 CET

world news

| |

China’s most senior diplomat has travelled to North Korea in what some see as a further strong show of support for Beijing’s ally, Pyongyang.

But it is not known what Chinese envoy Dai Bingguo said to North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il. And while state media in China said consensus was reached, it described the talks as “candid.”

It comes as a war of words escalates between the United States and China.

A foreign ministry spokeswoman in Beijing hit back after the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, slammed China for enabling what he called the North’s “reckless behaviour.”

“I would like to ask those who criticise China what have they done to protect peace and stability in the region,” she said.

China said military threats could not resolve the tensions.

It was an attack from Pyongyang on a South Korean island that sparked the crisis.

Defending joint American drills with South Korea, US Admiral Mullen said the Yellow Sea is free waters where the US military will continue to operate.

More about: China, Kim Jong-il, North Korea

| |

Mali: Rebel groups agree to creation of Islamic state

Two Rebel groups have agreed to merge and create an independent Islamic state in Northern Mali. After seizing Azawad – an area larger than France – two months ago, the groups had initially disagreed, with the secular Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)…