04 April 2013 (00:13 UTC-07 Tango)/23 Jumada l-Ula 1434/15 Farvardin 1391/24 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Several U.S. media outlets have been reporting that the People’s Liberation Army is building up forces on the border with North Korea.  In a news conference yesterday a Chinese official denied the reports.

The Washington Free Beacon has published pics of tank transporters supposedly taken by people near the area where the build up is taking place. It claims its official sources are unnamed U.S. government officials “…with access to intelligence reports, both intelligence and Internet reports from the region…”

The Washington Post also reported that the PLA is building up troops along the Korean border, citing unnamed U.S. government sources (as well as citing the Washington Free Beacon).  Not only did Chinese officials deny it, but the Obama administration downplayed it.

This comes after reports that China and the U.S. will work together against the DPRK.

According to China.org, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister, Chang Wanquan, and U.S. Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel, agreed to co-operate militarily: “…Hagel said that China and the United States have common interests and that the two sides should join hands to advance their inter-military ties that are facing new historic opportunities.”-China.org