(REOPENS FGN 15)

The North Korean test came as China is in the middle of prolonged holiday since February 10 to celebrate the week-long spring festival marking the Chinese New Year. Beijing had inkling of the preparations by North Korea to carry out the test much in defiance of the international community, including China, which in the recent times is taking a strident stand against its ally much to the surprise of the diplomatic community. A February 6 editorial by the state-run Global Times, titled "China should not fear North Korean disputes", said Beijing should make Pyongyang pay a heavy price if it went ahead with planned nuclear test. "Some Chinese scholars believe that China will face a diplomatic challenge if North Korea carries out a third nuclear test. They worry that Pyongyang will turn against China because of China's participation in some international sanctions against it," the editorial said. "In the worst case scenario, the rupture that occurred in relations between China and the Soviet Union will be repeated. Such concerns are driven by a lack of confidence in China's national strength, and they exaggerate North Korea's diplomatic irrationality," it said. "Some worry Pyongyang would completely turn to the US if it fell out with China. Such concerns are unfounded," it said. The daily said it's unlikely China would punish North Korea as harshly if it went ahead with a nuclear test. "However, if North Korea insists on a third nuclear test despite attempts to dissuade it, it must pay a heavy price. The assistance it will be able to receive from China should be reduced. The Chinese government should make this clear beforehand to shatter any illusions Pyongyang may have," it said. The editorial said "Pyongyang is important to China, but not important enough to make China give up its diplomatic principles". China maintains that denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula is necessary and insists relevant parties solve problems through negotiations, it said adding China is willing to maintain the Sino-North Korean friendship, but Pyongyang should do the same. "The two should have same concerns over the possibility the relationship might break down, which would be of no benefit to Pyongyang. North Korea would face an even worse situation, but China could find some ways to compensate for geopolitical losses," it said.