A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson lambasted the new submarine deal between the U.S., Australia and the U.K. on Thursday, arguing that the transfer of nuclear technology to Canberra shows the need to roll back sanctions on North Korea. 

The criticism comes after U.S. special representative for the DPRK Sung Kim recently called the trilateral security pact, known as AUKUS, a “forward looking, positive” initiative.

Asked about Kim’s remarks in a press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying asked how the U.S. will prove that the provision of highly enriched uranium does not violate international rules, as well as