Hidden Nook
"Because in Cyberspace, no one can hear you scream."
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Is China Getting Tough With North Korea?
[Media Source*] (Hat Tip: NK Zone)
(WASHINGTON POST) A senior U.S. envoy asked Chinese officials last week to cut off North Korea's supply of oil as a way of pressuring the government to return to disarmament talks. But the Chinese rebuffed the idea, saying it would damage their pipeline, according to U.S. officials briefed on the talks...
Chinese officials suggested that cutting off food deliveries would have the greatest impact on Pyongyang, and indicated Beijing was considering expanding a ban on certain imports to North Korea. But they did not elaborate on their comments or indicate any action was forthcoming, U.S. officials said.
Apparently China is considering options to pressure North Korea back to the table. The pipeline idea was rejected because China's pipeline has "a very high paraffin content" which could clog the pipeline making it's replacement expensive.
Cutting off food may be a more effective measure (as long as South Korea does the same) but as Tangent Shenzhen mentioned such actions may bring down the wrath of humanitarian groups which would cause China to reconsider such actions.
Meanwhile China seems to be suggesting that Washington re-establish communication with the regime as a possible solution towards bringing North Korea back to the "table."
The North Korean idea called for a secret bilateral meeting between the United States and North Korea, during which the United States would privately apologize for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's comment that North Korea was an "outpost of tyranny." After that secret session, North Korea would consider returning to six-nation negotiations.
It is doubtful Washington (or Secretary Rice) will establish communication with North Korea bi-laterally as those talks failed under Clinton (as the regime lied and built a bomb anyway). China of all the nations has the most influence on North Korea, and it would be wise for them to put more "pressure" upon the regime as a nuclear North Korea could be detrimental towards their economy (especially towards the Olympics).
Perhaps what the United States needs to do is provide incentives to China (i.e. help with re-unification of Taiwan) in order to encourage them to become more active in curbing Kim Jong-il's government from actually detonating a nuclear device. If China merely flexed it's military might, North Korea would perhaps be at the table the very next day.
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By Darnell Clayton ⢠4:40 PM ⢠Email Post ⢠â¢
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