Theresa May refuses to rule out British cyber attacks to halt more nuclear tests from North Korea – and sparks diplomatic row by calling on China to step up
THERESA MAY has sparked a fresh diplomatic row with furious China after demanding the "key" Asian superpower do more to tackle the North Korean menace.
The PM said the best solution to the nuclear stand-off would be for China to step up the pressure on Kim Jong-un.
Pushed four times, the Prime Minister refused to rule out British strikes - including cyber attacks - on the rogue Communist state, but said the easiest solution would be for China to step up.
Mrs May said the big beast was the "player" that could reduce tension in the region after "significant acts of provocation" from the DPKR.
But furious Beijing hit back to warn Mrs May and Donald Trump not to worsen the crisis, saying: “You will reap what you sow”.
Angry Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying criticised the actions of "relevant parties" who say China should step up pressure on North Korea.
She raged: "They only pay attention to sanctions and pressure, and ignore peace talks... When we promote peace talks, they ignore this.”
Washington has also pressed Beijing to do more to rein in the regime in Pyongyang.
Flying into Japan just a day after a North Korean missile was launched over the Pacific, Mrs May told her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe that the Uk stood shoulder to shoulder with Japan in facing down North Korean aggression."
The PM also used private talks with the Mr Abe to praise the display of unity at the UN Security Council last night in speaking with one voice against North Korean aggression.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
Theresa May is wined and dined on sushi during her Japan visit
On the menu:
- Assorted seasonal dishes: Corn tofu, sea urchin Octopus, gumbo, Japanese ginger Salted entrails of the sea cucumber, yam Soymilk skin, green soy beans, scallop Pike conger roe Abalone Simmered greens in soy sauce Fig, duck, sesame sauce
- Pike conger, turnip, fried lotus root, kidney bean
- Red rockfish, medium-fatty tuna, lobster, barracuda
- Tilefish marinated with miso, ginkgo nut
- Crab, fruit tomato, zucchini, wheat gluten, yolk vinegar
- Eggplant, beef, sweet pepper, miso sauce
- Prawn, sea bream, tuna, squid, horse mackerel, ginger
- Tofu, fried tofu, Japanese ginger
- Grapes, mango, watermelon, melon
Despite hefty sanctions from the United Nations doing little to stop further weapons tests by North Korea, Mrs May said she would be seeking further diplomatic solutions in the short term.
But asked multiple times what more could be done to bring North Korea to heel, she left the door open to using Britain's cyber security expertise to bring a halt to further weapons tests.
She said the UK "is continuing to work with our international partners to bring pressure on North Korea as we want to make sure they desist this action and we see the best way for doing this is for China to bring pressure to bear."
Speaking on the first day of her three day trade mission, Mrs May added: "I think they are key player in this".
And she went on: "China has a very key role I think in terms of the pressure that it can bring."
Mrs been told to "duck and cover" if North Korea missile warning sounds during her trip to Japan.
The Prime Minister, who landed in the country hours after the missile test, branded it a “reckless provocation”, but refused to abandon her three day trade trip.