CHINA: KOREAN PENINSULA CRISIS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY

SEOUL— China warned that the crisis on the Korean peninsula was getting worse by the day and demanded removal of a US defense system that was set up by South Korea against a possibly nuclear-tipped missile attack by North Korea.

Wang Yi, Chinese foreign minister, reiterated to his South Korean counterpart Beijing’s demand for the removal of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) antimissile system, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said.

Wang made the comments at a meeting with Kang Kyungwha on the sidelines of a United Nations gathering in New York on Wednesday.

South Korea and the United States see Thaad as a necessity to defend against the threat of North Korea, but China said it would do nothing to reduce tension and its powerful radar system threatened China’s security.

Aid to North

In another meeting, Wang told his German counterpart that tension in the Korean peninsula was getting worse by the day and it should not be allowed to spin out of control.

Solving the crisis, Wang said, could not rely solely on sanctions.

The crisis, however, did not stop South Korea from approving an $8-million aid plan for the North.

The decision to send aid to North Korea was not popular in South Korea, hitting President Moon Jae-in’s approval rating.

It raised concerns in Japan and the United States and followed new UN sanctions against North Korea for its sixth nuclear test earlier this month.

The South’s Unification Ministry said its aid policy remained unaffected by geopolitical tensions with the North.

The exact timing of when the aid would be sent would be confirmed later, the ministry said in a statement.

In a speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump escalated his standoff with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, mocking North Korean dictator Kim Jongun, calling him a “rocket man.”

Even when dogs bark, the parade goes on….

‘Dog-barking sounds’

“There is a saying that goes: ‘Even when dogs bark, the parade goes on,’” said Ri Yong-ho, North Korea’s foreign minister.

“If ( Trump) was thinking about surprising us with dogbarking sounds, then he is clearly dreaming,” said Ri.

When asked by reporters what he thought of Trump calling North Korean leader Kim Jong-un “rocket man,” Ri quipped, “I feel sorry for his aides.”

North Korea conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test early this month and launched numerous missiles this year.

Ri Yong-ho North Korea foreign minister