WWIII fears as Kim Jong-un threatens China with 'nuclear war' and declares country 'an enemy'

mirror.co.uk

Kim Jong-un has threatened China with 'nuclear war' after declaring the country an 'enemy of North Korea .'

The portly despot reportedly launched a scathing attack on Beijing for taking part in UN sanctions against his regime.

Officials circulated a document dated March 10 which slams China for "betraying socialism" and threatens to clamp down on them with the force of "a nuclear storm."

It states: “We must no longer go easy on the Chinese and instead deal with them equally in order to change their attitude of taking us lightly."

The report, which positioned China as 'the detested enemy' was published by the Workers’ Party of North Korea and picked up by South Korea-based news site Daily NK.

It adds: "All Party members and workers must join in soundly crushing China’s pressuring schemes with the force of a nuclear storm for its betrayal of socialism.”

China defended North Korea in the 1950-53 Korean War and was seen as the country's closest ally and largest trading partner.

But earlier this month the country agreed to a US proposal that would dramatically tighten existing restrictions after North Korea's nuclear test on January 6.

Lee Young Hwa, a professor at Kansai University, said North Korea has openly declared China to be an ‘enemy state,’ placing it on the same ranks as South Korea, the US, and Japan.

He said the document explains China has “been an eager participant” in the sanctions because it is “worried that its status of dominance in Northeast Asia will be challenged.