China's Global Times "North Korea would pay a heavy price for nuclear teat"

It remains unclear just when, if ever, North Korea will attempt its controversial third nuclear test, but there are growing signs that the reclusive nation's biggest political ally is growing weary of its behavior.

A strongly worded editorial in China's state-run Global Times newspaper Wednesday called on Beijing to get tough with Pyongyang if it conducts a nuclear test.

It's widely predicted that North Korea will soon conduct another nuclear test. Sino-North Korean relations now face a new challenge. 
It's unlikely China would punish North Korea as harshly as countries like the US, Japan and South Korea would prefer, and the friendship between the two sides is not going to end. The West should understand this clearly. However, if North Korea insists on a third nuclear test despite attempts to dissuade it, it must pay a heavy price. The assistance it will be able to receive from China should be reduced. The Chinese government should make this clear beforehand to shatter any illusions Pyongyang may have. 
Some Chinese scholars believe that China will face a diplomatic challenge if North Korea carries out a third nuclear test. They worry that Pyongyang will turn against China because of China's participation in some international sanctions against it. In the worst case scenario, the rupture that occurred in relations between China and the Soviet Union will be repeated. Such concerns are driven by a lack of confidence in China's national strength, and they exaggerate North Korea's diplomatic irrationality. 

China wouldn't at this stage leave North Korea to its own devises as the Communist party fear an economic or political collapse would destabilize Northeast Asia.   There's also the question of thousands of Korean's crossing into China and how they should be dealt with.  With a political  meltdown would China except a reunified Korea with America military personnel still stationed there?

Zhang Liangui, professor of international strategic research at the Party School of the China Communist Party Central Committee, believes that in this case, the editor accurately conveyed public opinion in China on the North Korea question."This article only represents a reporter's point of view, but I think he really expressed what many people in China are thinking must be done," Zhang said