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China backs U.N. move to denounce North Korea over nuclear test China backs U.N. move to denounce North Korea over nuclear test
(about 3 hours later)
BEIJING – Secretary of State John F. Kerry and China’s foreign minister agreed Wednesday to move ahead with a U.N. resolution condemning North Korea for its latest nuclear test, but appeared as far apart as ever on how far to push Pyongyang. BEIJING – Secretary of State John F. Kerry and China’s foreign minister agreed Wednesday to move ahead with a U.N. resolution condemning North Korea for its latest nuclear test, but they appeared as far apart as ever on how far to push Pyongyang.
The United States says any additional U.N. action against the North is likely to include greater sanctions. Beijing, a critical ally for North Korea, was angered by the nuclear test earlier this month, but has not indicated whether it would endorse further pressures. The United States says any additional U.N. action against the North is likely to include greater sanctions. Beijing, a critical ally for North Korea, was angered by the nuclear test earlier this month but has not indicated whether it would endorse further pressures.
As a permanent U.N. Security Council member, China could block any measures. As a permanent U.N. Security Council member, China could use its veto power to block any measures.
After a five-hour meeting between Kerry and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the two diplomats appeared before reporters with tension written across their faces. Wang drummed his fingers on the side of his podium as a grim-faced Kerry excoriated the actions of North Korea and its erratic leader, Kim Jong-un. After a five-hour meeting between Kerry and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the two diplomats appeared before reporters with tension written across their faces. Wang drummed his fingers on the side of his podium as a grim-faced Kerry excoriated the actions of North Korea and its erratic leader, Kim Jong Un.
Kerry used unusually forceful language about the dangers posed by Pyongyang. Wang repeatedly mentioned the need for stability on the Korean Peninsula. While both agreed more sanctions are warranted, they said that the details would have to be resolved in talks at the United Nations Security Council in coming days. Kerry used unusually forceful language about the dangers posed by Pyongyang. Wang repeatedly mentioned the need for stability on the Korean Peninsula. While both agreed that more sanctions are warranted, they said the details would have to be resolved in talks at the U.N. Security Council in coming days.
[Appeal to China: Make North feel “pain” over nuclear test][Appeal to China: Make North feel “pain” over nuclear test]
“Kim Jong-un’s actions are reckless and they are dangerous,” Kerry said of the leader whose regime has been backed by China for six decades. “Whether or not he achieved the explosion of a hydrogen weapon is not what makes the difference. It’s that he is trying.” “Kim Jong Un’s actions are reckless, and they are dangerous,” Kerry said of the leader whose regime has been backed by China for six decades. “Whether or not he achieved the explosion of a hydrogen weapon is not what makes the difference. It’s that he is trying.”
As a result, Kerry added, “North Korea poses an overt threat, a declared threat, to the world and it has stated its intention to develop a thermonuclear weapon.” As a result, Kerry added, “North Korea poses an overt threat, a declared threat, to the world, and it has stated its intention to develop a thermonuclear weapon.”
Six-party talks, also involving South Korea, Russia and Japan, began in 2003, but failed to make any headway. North Korea conducted its first nuclear tests in 2006 and finally quit the talks in 2009. It has since conducted three further tests, the most recent on Jan. 6. Six-party talks, also involving South Korea, Russia and Japan, began in 2003 but failed to make any headway. North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006 and finally quit the talks in 2009. It has since conducted three further tests, the most recent on Jan. 6.
China has voted in the U.N. Security Council to sanction North Korea over its previous nuclear tests, and it has condemned the latest. But Wang made clear that China was prepared to go only so far.China has voted in the U.N. Security Council to sanction North Korea over its previous nuclear tests, and it has condemned the latest. But Wang made clear that China was prepared to go only so far.
“At the same time, sanctions are not an end in themselves,” he said. “Our goal should be to bring the nuclear issue on the Korea Peninsula back to the negotiating track.”“At the same time, sanctions are not an end in themselves,” he said. “Our goal should be to bring the nuclear issue on the Korea Peninsula back to the negotiating track.”
[Global condemnation over North Korea’s nuclear test][Global condemnation over North Korea’s nuclear test]
Kerry declined to be specific about what sectors might be impacted by sanctions. But he suggested they might include trade involving the flow of goods and services between North Korea and China, shipping and aviation, as well as resource exchanges with coal and fuel.Kerry declined to be specific about what sectors might be impacted by sanctions. But he suggested they might include trade involving the flow of goods and services between North Korea and China, shipping and aviation, as well as resource exchanges with coal and fuel.
“There are many ways we think, non-punitive to the people of North Korea, but nevertheless effective steps that can be taken,” he said. “In fairness what we’re going to talk about in the next days on an accelerated basis.”“There are many ways we think, non-punitive to the people of North Korea, but nevertheless effective steps that can be taken,” he said. “In fairness what we’re going to talk about in the next days on an accelerated basis.”
Kerry came to Beijing as part of a drive by U.S. officials to pressure the Chinese government to get Pyongyang to give up its nuclear program. He said China has a “special role” to play, because it serves as the country’s lifeline, providing food and fuel and serving as a conduit for most of North Korea’s trade and financial transactions. Kerry came to Beijing as part of a drive by U.S. officials to pressure the Chinese government to get Pyongyang to give up its nuclear program. He said China has a “special role” to play because it serves as the country’s lifeline, providing food and fuel and serving as a conduit for most of North Korea’s trade and financial transactions.
In Beijing, analysts and government media outlets argue that pushing North Korea further could make it more aggressive or hasten the regime’s collapse, setting off a wave of refugees streaming into China and potentially installing a U.S. client state on its border.In Beijing, analysts and government media outlets argue that pushing North Korea further could make it more aggressive or hasten the regime’s collapse, setting off a wave of refugees streaming into China and potentially installing a U.S. client state on its border.
The Chinese accuse Washington of exacerbating the situation, posing a threat to their own security.The Chinese accuse Washington of exacerbating the situation, posing a threat to their own security.
But Kerry made clear that the strategy of relying on Beijing to prod Pyongyang needed to change. He said North Korea’s stated intentions to acquire intercontinental ballistics missiles threaten the United States, which he said would never accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed state. But Kerry made clear that the strategy of relying on Beijing to prod Pyongyang needed to change. He said North Korea’s stated intentions to acquire intercontinental ballistic missiles threaten the United States, which he said would never accept North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.
[The nuclear deal’s slow demise][The nuclear deal’s slow demise]
“The United States will take all necessary steps to defend the American people and to honor our security commitments to allies in the region,” he said. “I say that, making clear we do not want raise military tensions, we are not seeking additional steps other than UN Security Council resolutions, but we will not walk away from any actions necessary to achieve the goal.” “The United States will take all necessary steps to defend the American people and to honor our security commitments to allies in the region,” he said. “I say that, making clear we do not want raise military tensions, we are not seeking additional steps other than U.N. Security Council resolutions, but we will not walk away from any actions necessary to achieve the goal.”
Kerry also held out a carrot to North Korea, saying it would get sanctions relief, economic help, energy and food aid plus direct humanitarian assistance if it ends its nuclear program.Kerry also held out a carrot to North Korea, saying it would get sanctions relief, economic help, energy and food aid plus direct humanitarian assistance if it ends its nuclear program.
Yet even as he stood alongside Wang after their lengthy meeting that bled into lunch, Kerry seemed to be pleading with China to do more to rein in its northern neighbor. Yet even as he stood alongside Wang after their lengthy meeting that extended into lunch, Kerry seemed to be pleading with China to do more to rein in its neighbor.
He recalled that China was one of five countries that negotiated an agreement to trim Iran’s nuclear program. Nuclear-related sanctions against Iran were lifted earlier this month, once Iran successfully pared down its uranium stockpiles and disabled or put into storage parts of its nuclear facilities. He recalled that China was one of five countries that negotiated an agreement to trim Iran’s nuclear program. Nuclear-related sanctions against Iran were lifted earlier this month, once Iran successfully pared down its uranium stockpiles and disabled or mothballed parts of its nuclear facilities.
“With all due respect, more significant and impactful sanctions were put in place against Iran, which did not have a nuclear weapon, than against North Korea, which does,” he said.“With all due respect, more significant and impactful sanctions were put in place against Iran, which did not have a nuclear weapon, than against North Korea, which does,” he said.
In contrast, Wang’s words were laced with reluctance and a determination not to be pressured into modifying its stance.In contrast, Wang’s words were laced with reluctance and a determination not to be pressured into modifying its stance.
[North Korea blast reverberates in Beijing][North Korea blast reverberates in Beijing]
“China is a large country and our position on this issue is transparent and above board,” he said. “Our position will not be swayed by specific events or the temporary mood of the moment.” “China is a large country, and our position on this issue is transparent and above board,” he said. “Our position will not be swayed by specific events or the temporary mood of the moment.”
Wang said China is committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but said two other principles are equally important — “The commitment to uphold peace and stability. The commitment to resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation.” Wang said China is committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but he said two other principles are equally important: “The commitment to uphold peace and stability. The commitment to resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation.”
After North Korea conducted another nuclear test in violation of existing U.N. Security Council resolutions, Wang said, China publicly condemned the test.After North Korea conducted another nuclear test in violation of existing U.N. Security Council resolutions, Wang said, China publicly condemned the test.
“China will act in a responsible manner,” he said. “In the meantime, we must point out the new resolution should not provoke new tension in the situation, still less destabilize the Korean Peninsula. The goal is to take the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula back to the right track of negotiation.” “China will act in a responsible manner,” he said. “In the meantime, we must point out the new resolution should not provoke new tension in the situation, still less destabilize the Korean Peninsula.”
In the past, Washington had used less confrontational language than Kerry employed on Wednesday, hoping China would use its clout to pressure North Korea on its own. But in recent weeks, U.S. officials have made a series of comments suggesting their patience was wearing thin.In the past, Washington had used less confrontational language than Kerry employed on Wednesday, hoping China would use its clout to pressure North Korea on its own. But in recent weeks, U.S. officials have made a series of comments suggesting their patience was wearing thin.
[Kerry bristles at claims that U.S. policies left North “unattended”][Kerry bristles at claims that U.S. policies left North “unattended”]
Kerry’s one-day visit to talk with Chinese leaders followed suggestions by Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken that Washington was contemplating stronger measures against North Korea, and China might be caught in the crosshairs.
“I think what we will be talking to China about is that we will, both in terms of sanctions and in terms of our defense postures, have to take additional steps in order to use the leverage we have in order to defend ourselves and our allies if North Korea doesn’t change its behavior,” Blinken said in an interview with The New York Times in Seoul.
Some of those steps, he added, “won’t be directed at China, but China probably won’t like them.” Everything, he added, is on the table.
But analysts had expressed skepticism that stronger U.S. language and the visit by Kerry would convince the Chinese to alter their position much.
Yanmei Xie, senior China analyst with the International Crisis Group in Beijing , said Washington’s approach appeared to be changing in the face of Beijing’s immovable stance.Yanmei Xie, senior China analyst with the International Crisis Group in Beijing , said Washington’s approach appeared to be changing in the face of Beijing’s immovable stance.
“The U.S. may have realized the approach before of trying to appeal to China's ego, trying to praise China into becoming, in the U.S. eyes, a responsible power, has not produced any result,” Xie said. “Now they appear to be trying a different approach, raising the stakes for China of what the US sees as inaction over North Korea.”“The U.S. may have realized the approach before of trying to appeal to China's ego, trying to praise China into becoming, in the U.S. eyes, a responsible power, has not produced any result,” Xie said. “Now they appear to be trying a different approach, raising the stakes for China of what the US sees as inaction over North Korea.”
“I think the U.S is not pretending anymore,” she added.“I think the U.S is not pretending anymore,” she added.
Before the talks, Chinese media commentary had reflected the gulf between Washington and Beijing on how to handle Pyongyang. State news agency Xinhua had blamed the U.S.’s “uncompromising hostility” towards North Korea for “flaring up the country's sense of insecurity and thus pushing it towards reckless nuclear brinkmanship.” China Daily warned against “finger-pointing and unreasonable accusations”, as well as “provocative moves that will only risk pushing the situation out of control.”