North Korea's missile launch Sunday came at a highly embarrassing time for China, its chief ally and economic partner. As Chinese President Xi Jinping prepared to inaugurate the Belt and Road Forum, Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile from a base in the country's northwest, near the border with China. The forum is China's answer to Davos or the G20, centered around the colossal One Belt, One Road (OBOR) trade initiative. OBOR is a personal project of Xi's, who spoke of the importance of "harmonious co-existence" with other countries during the opening ceremony. But that harmony was somewhat spoiled by North Korea's missile launch from a base near the Chinese border hours before Xi started speaking. Read more
