Analysts: Beijing may be the real target

Volatile situation: Kim providing guidance on a nuclear weapon programme in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang. — Reuters

Beijing: North Korea’s escalating nuclear provocations are putting putative ally China in an increasing bind, and may be part of a strategy to twist Beijing’s arm into orchestrating direct talks between Pyongyang and Washington, analysts said.

South Korea, meanwhile, has detected signs that the North is preparing another missile launch, the defence ministry said yesterday, adding it could involve an intercontinental ballistic missile.