China's military experts said that Beijing is highly unlikely to come to North Korea's rescue and provide military aid in case of a breakout of conflict or war brought by Pyongyang's nuclear provocation in the Korean peninsula.

Despite a long-standing mutual defense pact between the two nations, mainland experts said Pyongyang's development of its nuclear program has jeopardized China's security interests and heavily damaged their relations, ending in the revocation of the pact.

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China and North Korea signed a friendship treaty 55 years ago whereby Beijing had committed to defend North Korea in the event of an attack against potential outside enemies.

Treaty of Friendship

The pact, known as the "Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance" was signed in 1961 by the two sides. It has been rendered null and void following the deterioration of the Sino-North Korean relations, experts said.

"The treaty is China's only legally binding bilateral security pact remaining in force. But it exists only in the legal sense and it is highly unlikely that China will provide military aid in the event of an attack," said Professor Pang Zhongying, a Chinese international relations expert.

Pang added that at the time the defense treaty was inked by both China and North Korea in 1961, the Chinese government was "immature and inexperienced" in committing itself to a "vaguely-worded treaty."

The mainland scholars' perspective and comments were made in reaction to a recent article of the government-backed People's Daily newspaper which said that China was still committed to protect Pyongyang against potential enemies despite its belligerent actions in the Korean peninsula.

Professor Shen Jiru, an international relations expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Beijing should not be bound by the treaty in the wake of North Korea's continued pursuit of nuclear programs.

"The treaty was a relic of the cold war which made no mention of specific circumstances under which China would provide military aid," he said.

The US and South Korean governments said that North Korea tried to launch a missile in observance of the birthday of Pyongyang's founder, Kim II-sung last Friday but failed.

Advanced missile and rocket technology

The attempt was North Korea's latest move to show its advanced missile and rocket technology amid the standing United Nations resolution imposing harsh sanctions against Pyongyang.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, when asked if Beijing will defend North Korea in case of a war, said China will neither tolerate chaos and instability in the Korean Peninsula region nor allow Pyongyang's development of its nuclear program.

Tagschina, North Korea, Treaty of Friendship, Treaty of Friendship Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, mainland scholars, defense treaty, war, North Korea's nuclear program