Seoul (AsiaNews) - Doing business in North Korea is a "nightmare," said an official with the Xiyang Group, a Chinese mining giant. In his view, the country needs real and immediate reforms. A diplomatic row followed between Pyongyang and Beijing, North Korea's last ally.
In a quick rebuttal, North Korea said that the Xiyang Group's negative comments have been used by "hostile forces" in an orchestrated media campaign to blacken Pyongyang, and that they would not stand idly by. Any fault lies with China, not North Korea.
Such harsh words are unusual in the otherwise cordial Sino-North Korean relations, which have even survived the late Kim Jong-il's military provocations.
After the international community abandoned North Korea after nuclear disarmament talks collapsed, China was the only country willing to send economic aid to the impoverished nation.
For some observers, the row is a way for China to urge its ally to change its ways. For more than a year, Chinese leaders have been trying in fact to convince their North Korean counterparts to end their nuclear programme and adopt reforms like those of Deng Xiaoping.
According to South Korean intelligence sources, Kim Jong-un, the dear leader's third son and heir, has asked to meet with Chinese leaders to discuss bilateral cooperation but has insisted that North Korea receive financial aid first. China has responded in the negative and this has exacerbated the situation.