North Korea challenges China’s border telecoms plans in rare protest
- Pyongyang claims Beijing failed to consult it about the deployment, potentially indicating strained communications between the two
According to the email obtained by reporters, North Korea also complained that China failed to consult it about the plans in advance, a sign that the two countries long known for close economic ties may have a problem in bilateral communication.
The dispute occurred after the Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union made the information about terrestrial networks available to relevant countries in June, including China’s plan to set up 191 facilities for purposes such as FM radio broadcasting.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of relations between North Korea and China, its long-time economic benefactor.
North Korea said that some of the proposed radio stations are “located in the border areas” with the country and it expressed “objection to the registration of those FM stations” in the email dated July 24.