Beijing’s ambassador in Pyongyang held a lunar new year reception last month for more than 70 senior North Korean officials. According to Chinese news reports, the ambassador’s guests lauded “the blood alliance and friendship” between the countries.
On Sunday — only three weeks later — Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, severely tested the patience of his Chinese “friends” by firing a medium-range ballistic rocket towards Japan.
Then came the murder in Malaysia on Monday of Kim Jong Nam, and widespread speculation that the North Korean leader ordered the assassination of his half-brother.
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