China State Media Urges Action If North Korea Tests Nuclear Missiles

While the Chinese government continues to apply a diplomatic approach to its increasingly hostile neighbor North Korea, a state-run newspaper called on the country's government to "strike back hard" if the country chooses to go through with a third nuclear missile test , according to a report from Reuters.

China's state-run Global Times newspaper, a publication many in the country view as symbolic of the opinions of the Chinese government, voiced its opposition to North Korea's nuclear testing through a tough-minded editorial.

"If North Korea insists on a third nuclear test despite attempts to dissuade it, it must pay a heavy price," wrote the Global Times. The paper also called on China to cease giving North Korea financial aid as punishment.  

The paper also cautioned Chinese citizens from being blinded by the popular opinion, held by many experts in the country, that increased tensions between North Korea and China and its other regional neighboring countries was leaving the country open to a "diplomatic attack" from nations like the U.S.

"Some believe the U.S., Japan and South Korea are attempting to foment discord between China and North Korea," the editorial warned. "Such a trap may be real, but China shouldn't be taken hostage by North Korea's extreme actions in order to avoid such a trap."

The Global Times also tried to assuage fears that tough response to a North Korean nuclear test would cause the country to turn on China, arguing that even if the unthinkable happened, and North Korea sided with the U.S., there would be "no serious ramifications." The paper claimed that China's growing political and economic clout would cancel out any newfound aggressiveness.

"China is never afraid of Pyongyang," the paper announced. "If Pyongyang gets tough with China, China should strike back hard, even at the cost of deteriorating bilateral relations."

China's Foreign Ministry remained vaguely in opposition to further tests from North Korea, but noncommittal to addressing the country's recent hostile actions head-on.

"China is extremely concerned by the way things are going," spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. "We oppose any behavior which may exacerbate the situation and any acts which are not beneficial towards the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. We call on all the relevant sides to remain calm and exercise restraint and earnestly work hard to maintain peace and stability in the Korean peninsula."

South Korean officials announced Monday they believe North Korea could conduct a third nuclear missile test at "any time."

"We assess that North Korea has almost finished preparations for conducting a nuclear test anytime and all that's left is North Korea making a political decision" to do so, South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters Monday.

The spokesman explained he couldn't reveal any further details because they would involve confidential intelligence affairs, Yahoo! News reported.

North Korea has made brisk progress in preparing its main underground nuclear test site recently, but has put a cover over the entrance to the tunnel to thwart attempts to discern whether a detonation might be imminent, South Korean officials and media reported on Friday.

North Korea denounced the U.S. as its "sworn enemy" and announced more nuclear tests earlier in January in retaliation for the United Nations Security Council's unanimous decision to tighten sanctions in the insular nation. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was said to have ordered his military and government to take "high-profile" measures last week, according to the country's media, the New York Times reported, that indicated a third nuclear test could happen soon.

With the nuclear test sites underground, satellites cannot fully observe the reality of the situation, drawing the attention of American and South Korean officials to the entrance of the newest of the three tunnels in particular, where a test is most likely. A sealed entrance to the tunnel would be the most obvious sign of an impending test, according to the New York Times.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to the media on the record, a South Korean military official said Friday that North Korea recently had put a large cover over the entrance of the tunnel, apparently in an effort to block American spy satellites from monitoring activity at the site. According to the New York Times, South Korean news media also cited military sources that claimed such a cover had been placed over the tunnel's entrance.

South Korean officials say they are watching closely to determine if the cover is camouflage or a sign of an imminent nuclear test.

North Korea experts are keeping a constantly watchful eye on the country, speculating on possible dates for a nuclear test. Some think a test could happen before Feb. 16 - the birthday of Kim Jong-il, the late North Korean leader, and father of current leader Kim Jong-un.