China State Media Outlet Issues Guide on How to Prepare for Nuclear War

Jilin Daily, a local Chinese state newspaper, released a report Wednesday that outlines how to respond in the event of a nuclear attack.  

The article does not mention North Korea directly, but the news outlet is based on the Jilin border which is right next to North Korea.  

The guide was released “as assumptions increase on possible clashes on the Korean Peninsula.”

The article is titled “Knowledge about Nuclear Weapons and Protection” and it instructs residents of Jilin to “close their windows and doors during an emergency and immediately take a shower and wash out their mouths and ears after being exposed to radiation.”

“Other advice: If a bomb goes off when you are near a river, pond or lake — jump in it. If you do go outside after an explosion, wear a mask and protective clothing, wash exposed parts of your body and scrub your boots. Contaminated clothing should be firmly shaken clean and hung on a tree, and your ears should be thoroughly cleaned,” writes the Washington Post.  

Then the article, which also features illustrations, gives a history of nuclear weapons and the potential impact of each type of weapon.

Evidently, this guide is alarming to the residents, many of which demanded an explanation.

“We provide monthly articles on national defense education and protective measures against disasters to the newspaper. This month is an article on nuclear weapons,” said an anonymous Jilin Air Defense office employee about the article.

“If war breaks out, it is not possible to rule out the Korean peninsula producing nuclear contaminants, and countermeasures must be seriously researched and spoken openly about to let the common folk know. But at the same time, there is absolutely no reason to be alarmed,” wrote Global Times, a state-backed media outlet about the Jilin Daily article.

China’s close proximity to North Korea makes the country more vulnerable to the affects following nuclear tests.  

“In September, China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection announced the activation of “contingency plans” in the event of a North Korean nuclear disaster, citing China’s experience of a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in its border regions following the nuclear test. Two months later, one geologist a Peking University wrote urging the government to prepare for a calamity in North Korea,” writes Breitbart. 

“China cannot sit and wait until the site implodes,” said the geologist. “Our instruments can detect nuclear fallout when it arrives, but it will be too late by then. There will be public panic and anger at the government for not taking action.” 

Although China is North Korea’s largest trading partner, there has been tension between the nations due to China’s “assistance” in trying to halt North Korea’s nuclear weapon program.  

China has expressed frustrations with Pyongyang, but has yet to take major action outside of the United Nations sanctions. 

But in October, China’s exports to North Korea spike by 21% compared to the same time last year.

Tensions have again risen after this week’s events.

“A US B-1B bomber flew over the Korean peninsula on Wednesday during a large-scale joint aerial drill, which Pyongyang said would lead to the “brink of war”. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said earlier that he felt that tensions over North Korea had resurfaced,” writes the NZ Herald.

Last week, North Korea tested its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM,) that allegedly could reach the U.S.

President Donald Trump has warned North Korea that the country would be destroyed if the U.S. is threatened with nuclear weapons.

Author’s note: If China’s worried, we should be. 

Editor’s note: Not sure how real it is, but this is meant to be a message to North Korea that China and the U.S. are on the same page, and that war is a real possibility. The irony is the less North Korea believes war is possible, the more likely it is.