Chinese armed forces have moved into new positions along the country’s border with North Korea, charged with defending an 870-mile crossing that is often violated by hungry refugees from the isolated Communist state. Chinese foreign ministry officials confirmed in a statement issued this afternoon that troops from the People’s Liberation Army had replaced police along the border, though they did not confirm Hong Kong news reports that the move involved as many as 150,000 soldiers. The move marks a subtle but significant change in relations between the two Communist states, which fought together against the United States in the Korean War and still have a mutual defense treaty. While Chinese officials described the new border arrangements as a routine adjustment, it comes at a time when Beijing has exerted fresh pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. China is the main sponsor of multilateral negotiations involving North Korea, the United States and three other countries aimed at reaching a negotiated settlement to the Korean arms standoff. Full Story
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