South Korean President Park Geun-hye is calling on the international community, especially China, to impose the harshest possible sanctions on North Korea over its latest nuclear test.

President Park called last week’s actions by Pyongyang “an unacceptable challenge” to regional peace and security during a nationally televised address Wednesday.  She vowed to make every effort to ensure the United Nations Security Council pass the strongest resolution it can to punish the isolated regime.

But Park said unless China, North Korea’s crucial diplomatic and economic ally, joins the effort, Pyongyang will carry out “a fifth or sixth nuclear test” and further destabilize the Korean peninsula. 

“I believe the Chinese government will not allow the situation on the Korean peninsula to deteriorate further. The best partners are those that will hold your hand in difficult times,” said Park. “Holding the hands of someone in a difficult situation is the mark of the best partner.”

China angrily criticized North Korea over last week’s nuclear test, but is seen as reluctant to impose extremely harsh sanctions against the North, fearing it would lead to the collapse of leader Kim Jong Un’s government, leading to scores of refugees swarming over its shared border. 

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is also urging China to take a tougher line against North Korea.

North Korea claims it detonated its first-ever hydrogen, or thermonuclear, bomb in last week’s test, but its claims have been disputed by experts. 

Park said South Korea will continue its loudspeaker broadcasts of anti-North propaganda statements at North Korean soldiers along the border separating the two countries, calling it an “effective psychological tool” against the regime. 
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