China still highly regards its relationship with North Korea, Beijing’s state-run newspaper Huanqiu Shibao declared through its editorial on Thursday, two days after its announcement that it would suspend mineral trade and jet fuel.

The editorial emphasized China’s complete implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2270 and its intent to find a peaceful solution to Pyongyang’s nuclear issue, mentioning the Six-Party Talks.

“Even if China announced the embargo against North Korea, a ‘landmark change,’ is probably exaggerated,” the paper reads, criticizing the U.S., South Korea and Japan’s ambition towards “regime change” in Pyongyang.

“Xi’s policy on North Korea clarifies denuclearization, at