This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/world/asia/biden-peers-into-north-korea-at-tense-border.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Biden Peers Into North Korea at Tense Border Biden Looks Into North Korea at Border
(about 7 hours later)
PANMUNJOM, South Korea — Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. peered into the leafless wilderness of North Korea on Saturday, making a time-honored visit to the demilitarized zone just hours after the North released an American citizen detained by the authorities since October.PANMUNJOM, South Korea — Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. peered into the leafless wilderness of North Korea on Saturday, making a time-honored visit to the demilitarized zone just hours after the North released an American citizen detained by the authorities since October.
North Korea’s freeing of Merrill Newman, an 85-year-old Korean War veteran from Palo Alto, Calif., punctuated an unusually eventful trip by Mr. Biden to Japan, China and South Korea that focused, at every stop, on how to deal with the nuclear-armed North. North Korea’s freeing of Merrill Newman, a Korean War veteran from California, punctuated an unusually eventful trip by Mr. Biden to Japan, China and South Korea that largely focused on how to deal with the nuclear-armed North. (Another major topic was China’s controversial new claims to control a large swath of airspace over the East China Sea.)
While the vice president said he had not played a “direct role” in securing Mr. Newman’s release, the timing suggested North Korea was exploiting his presence to make a statement. And it leached some of the Cold War-style tension from Mr. Biden’s visit to this no man’s land that has hung over previous visits by American leaders. While the vice president said he had not played a “direct role” in securing Mr. Newman’s release, the timing suggested North Korea may have been exploiting his presence to make a statement. And it took some of the Cold War-style tension from Mr. Biden’s visit to this no man’s land that has hung over previous visits by American leaders.
Standing on a sunny observation deck, Mr. Biden looked through binoculars into the North, as a South Korean soldier gave him a routine military status report. Unlike when President Obama visited in March 2012, Mr. Biden was not shielded by a bulletproof barrier.Standing on a sunny observation deck, Mr. Biden looked through binoculars into the North, as a South Korean soldier gave him a routine military status report. Unlike when President Obama visited in March 2012, Mr. Biden was not shielded by a bulletproof barrier.
“Welcome to the edge of freedom,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Edwan, commander of the United Nations Command Security Battalion.“Welcome to the edge of freedom,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Edwan, commander of the United Nations Command Security Battalion.
“Good to be back,” Mr. Biden replied. “Good to be back,” said Mr. Biden, who traveled there while he was a senator.
The vice president’s visit to Asia came at a time of deep uncertainty about the North, with reports that its leader, Kim Jong-un, had ordered a purge of one of his closest relatives, suggesting the possibility of further upheaval. Already, the North has positioned more attack helicopters on its western sea border with South Korea, raising fears that it might lash out to deflect attention from any internal power struggles. The vice president visited Asia at a time of deep uncertainty about the North, with reports that its leader, Kim Jong-un, had ordered a purge of one of his closest relatives, suggesting the possibility of further upheaval.
But the trip to China, the North’s patron, also came in the wake of diplomatic advances with another would-be nuclear power, Iran, that American officials hope will suggest new possibilities for dealing with the reclusive government in Pyongyang. Already, the North has positioned more attack helicopters on its western sea border with South Korea, raising fears that it might lash out to deflect attention from any internal power struggles.
On Wednesday in Beijing, Mr. Biden discussed North Korea at length with China’s president, Xi Jinping, according to administration officials. They said Mr. Biden, citing the example of Iran, pressed Mr. Xi to put more economic and financial pressure on the North to curb its nuclear ambitions. But the trip to China, North Korea’s patron, also came in the wake of diplomatic advances with another would-be nuclear power, Iran, that American officials hope will suggest new possibilities for dealing with the reclusive government in the North.
According to American officials, the Iranian nuclear deal, negotiated with China as one of the major-power partners, has made Mr. Xi somewhat open to the argument that pressure, combined with an offer of dialogue, can be a recipe for new diplomacy with North Korea. On Wednesday in Beijing, Mr. Biden discussed North Korea at length with China’s president, Xi Jinping, administration officials said. They said Mr. Biden, citing the example of Iran, had pressed Mr. Xi to put more economic and financial pressure on the North to curb its nuclear ambitions.
“The credibility of our argument about the impact of pressure on diplomatic solutions has been enhanced in the eyes of a number of countries, including China, by what’s happened with Iran,” said a senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe the exchanges between Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi. According to American officials, the Iranian nuclear deal, negotiated with major-power partners that included China, has made Mr. Xi somewhat open to the argument that pressure, combined with an offer of dialogue, can be a recipe for new diplomacy with North Korea.
The Chinese did not release details about the meeting.The Chinese did not release details about the meeting.
There have already been signs that China is losing patience with North Korea, which under Mr. Kim has often been dismissive of China’s warnings about provocations that could destabilize the region. In September, China announced that it planned to strengthen export controls on materials and equipment for the nuclear program. Mr. Xi, officials said, is also more assertive about pressuring North Korea than was his predecessor, Hu Jintao. There have been signs that China is losing patience with North Korea, which under Mr. Kim has often been dismissive of China’s warnings about provocations that could destabilize the region. In September, China announced that it planned to strengthen export controls on materials and equipment for the country’s nuclear programs. Mr. Xi, officials said, is also more assertive about pressing North Korea than was his predecessor, Hu Jintao.
But significant gaps still remain. China continues to send aid and investment to North Korea and has resisted past efforts to impose punishing sanctions. Chinese officials also continue to call for the United States to return to multilateral talks with the North, which the Obama administration has resisted until it takes concrete steps to dismantle its nuclear program. But significant gaps remain. China continues to invest in North Korea and has resisted some past efforts to impose punishing sanctions. Chinese officials also continue to call for the United States to return to multilateral talks with North Korea, which the Obama administration has resisted until the North takes concrete steps to dismantle the country’s nuclear programs.
Iran, the American official cautioned, is not a “strict template” for North Korea because the North already possesses nuclear weapons while Iran, which says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, is still short of that threshold. Iran, the American official cautioned, is not a “strict template” for North Korea because the North already possesses nuclear weapons, while Iran, which says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, is still short of that threshold.
In the case of Iran, the six major powers negotiating with Tehran have been unified on the use of escalating oil and financial sanctions to drag Iran to the bargaining table; Iran’s leaders recently agreed to freeze elements of its nuclear program temporarily while both sides search for a comprehensive agreement. In the case of the so-called six-party talks with North Korea, however, China remains an outlier. The other parties involved are Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States. In the case of Iran, the six major powers negotiating with it have been unified on the use of escalating oil and financial sanctions to drag it to the bargaining table; Iran’s leaders recently agreed to freeze elements of its nuclear program temporarily while both sides search for a comprehensive agreement. In the case of the so-called six-party talks with North Korea, however, China remains an outlier. The other parties involved are Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States.
American officials said China had watched the recent reports of the purge in North Korea with concern, especially since the relative who is said to have lost his state and party positions is a man with whom Chinese leaders have built a relationship. American officials said China had watched the recent reports of a purge in North Korea with concern, especially since the relative who is said to have lost his state and party positions is a man with whom Chinese leaders have built a relationship.
American officials would not discuss what the Chinese told Mr. Biden about South Korean intelligence reports that Mr. Kim relieved his powerful uncle, Jang Song-thaek, of his posts and executed two of his aides. Mr. Jang is married to the sister of Mr. Kim’s deceased father, Kim Jong-il. American officials would not discuss what the Chinese told Mr. Biden about reports that Mr. Kim relieved his powerful uncle, Jang Song-thaek, of his posts and executed two of his aides. Mr. Jang is married to the sister of Mr. Kim’s deceased father, Kim Jong-il.
In a speech in Seoul on Friday, Mr. Biden reaffirmed the determination of the United States to protect South Korea from the nuclear threat from the North. He called, as Mr. Obama and other American officials have, for the reunification of the Korean Peninsula.In a speech in Seoul on Friday, Mr. Biden reaffirmed the determination of the United States to protect South Korea from the nuclear threat from the North. He called, as Mr. Obama and other American officials have, for the reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
As Mr. Biden paid a visit to the War Memorial of Korea on the morning he left, he was buoyed by the news of Mr. Newman’s release, saying he would have liked to give him a lift home on Air Force Two. (Mr. Newman took a commercial flight from Beijing.) Squinting in the bright daylight, he said, “At least there’s one bright piece of sunshine.” As Mr. Biden paid a visit to the War Memorial of Korea on the morning he left, he was buoyed by the news of Mr. Newman’s release, saying he would have liked to have given him a lift home on Air Force Two. (Mr. Newman took a commercial flight from Beijing to get to California faster.) Squinting in the bright daylight, Mr. Biden said, “At least there’s one bright piece of sunshine.”