China urges US ‘flexibility’ with North Korea amid Washington anger at UN ‘silence’

People in Seoul watch coverage of a North Korean missile launch in January. China has told the US to be more accommodating of North Korea if it wants to resolve tensions on the peninsula. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

China’s ambassador to the UN has called on the United States to be more flexible in its dealings with North Korea, as Beijing joined others in refusing to sign a US-drafted security council joint statement condemning Pyongyang’s missile launches.

Kim Jong-un’s regime conducted an unprecedented seven weapons tests in January, including launching its most powerful missile since 2017 as it hinted it could restart long-range and nuclear testing.