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US And China Disagree On N. Korea
SecurityProNews
Staff Writer
2005-05-09
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With concerns mounting about an imminent North Korean nuclear test, the United States, China, and South Korea have all called on Kim Jong-Il to resume talks. But the US and China have differing opinions about exactly how to persuade him to do so.
Thought to have the most influence on North Korea, China is the chief supplier of food and fuel to the country. According to the Washington Post, the US would prefer China to shut off exports, especially fuel.
North Korea imported $70 million in Chinese fuel last year.
Though China believes cutting off food supplies would have a greater impact, it would prefer a softer approach, by offering economic incentives.
"China is currently using the card that it would provide more economic assistance to North Korea in return for resolving this nuclear crisis," a diplomatic source in Beijing said. "Even if the U.S. position is to lean toward greater pressure,
"China's key position will not change. Pressuring North Korea with a pipeline shutdown is not a Chinese Foreign Ministry principle."
A nuclear-armed North Korea remains a sticky situation. While it is felt that Kim Jong-il is untrustworthy, China would prefer him to an unstable factioned state with unaccounted for arms and multitudes of refugees crossing the border.
A hardline approach, favored by the US, is thought to carry the possibility of destabilizing a country that already may have up to five or six bombs.
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