North Korean officials have hinted that they may launch a satellite into space and announce the restart of their atomic fuel plants (a restart of these plants could mean they are gearing up for another nuclear test) in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Workers party. If North Korea does in fact follow through with their plans it will be a violation of U.N. resolutions, they will also be angering their closest ally in the process.
In 2013 when North Korea conducted a nuclear test China "joined the international community in condemning the action, called in
the North Korean ambassador to protest, and, according to some
indications, slowed the flow of goods across their border."
This time however political observers expect China to act much more harshly than they did in 2013. A rocket launch or nuke test could force China to "enforce existing and future sanctions more vigorously" they may also "take unilateral steps such as cutting back on cross-border trade. " Chinese - North Korean trade accounted for $6.8 billion of North Korea's $7.61 billion trade total. Cutting back on trade could seriously hurt North Korea's already weak economy.
That being said North Korea better think long and hard about following through with it's plans before it angers it's biggest trade partner and ally, and potentially damaging their relationship forever.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/china-respond-firmly-north-korea-nuke-test-33857338
Ashley Rot
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