The United States warned China on Friday that North Korea's attendance at a weekend summit on China's new Silk Road could affect the participation of other countries, casting a shadow over Beijing's biggest diplomatic event of the year.
Two sources said the U.S. Embassy in Beijing had submitted a diplomatic note to China's Foreign Ministry saying that inviting North Korea sent the wrong message at a time when the world is trying to pressure Pyongyang over its missile and nuclear tests.
China's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday had said North Korea would send a delegation to the summit but gave no other details.