China says U.S. must take 'due responsibility' in NK nukes

on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, a South Korean protester shouts slogans during a rally denouncing North Korea's latest nuclear test in Seoul, South Kor

China on Monday called for America to “take on its due responsibility” after North Korea carried out its fifth nuclear test.

The call came after Defense Secretary Ash Carter said China had an “important responsibility” for the latest test and called on it to pressure its neighbor after the North on Friday said it tested its largest nuclear warhead yet.  China is the reclusive communist nation’s largest trading partner.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters Monday that Carter was “being too modest” and cited a Chinese saying, “Whoever started the trouble should end it,” the Associated Press reported.

“I think the U.S. should go over the process of the development of the nuclear issue and earnestly work on a tangible and effective resolution,” she added.

The North's official Korean Central News agency reported Monday that the U.S. wanted to cover "its criminal nature as a world nuclear proliferator and divert the attention of the international community elsewhere," and said "the U.S. is prodding its allies into nuclear weaponization."

Also on Monday, South Korean officials said the North could be ready to carry out another nuclear test at any time.

South Korea has developed a plan to destroy Pyongyang by bombing in the event of signs of a nuclear attack, the South's Yonhap news agency reported Sunday.

North Korea’s announcement that it successfully conducted a "higher level" test of a nuclear weapon drew immediate condemnation from the United States, South Korea, China and Japan. The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting. on the matter.

Residents look up at a big screen TV in front of Pyongyang railway station showing television presenter Ri Chun-Hee officially announcing that the country successfully tested a nuclear warhead earlier in the day on Sept. 9, 2016. North Korea has successfully tested a nuclear warhead, it said which said the "maniacal recklessness" of young ruler Kim Jong-Un would lead to self-destruction.
President Obama condemned the test and promised new sanctions "to demonstrate to North Korea that there are consequences to its unlawful and dangerous actions."