US, China Agree New ‘Strong’ Resolution Against North Korea

Last week, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said the scope of threats from North Korea was expanding to include cyber warfare and the use of drones to infiltrate the South.

His remarks came as Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said he planned a trip to the Taiwanese-held island of Itu Aba, known as Taiping Island in Taiwan, in the sea, a move a USA official called “extremely unhelpful” in resolving disputes over the waterway. This has raised speculation that China, a veto-holding permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, is seeking to water down the U.N.-led sanctions – in a familiar pattern – following the North’s previous nuclear and long-range missile tests.

“In the meantime, we must point out that the new resolution should not provoke new tensions”.

“For China, the challenge is balancing the need to punish North Korea with their concerns about stability in North Korea”.

The expert said the USA should plan a two-track approach of continuing to consult and act closely with China whenever possible while at the same time also considering actions that Beijing does not approve of, but can not prevent, such as penalizing Chinese and global banks that do business in North Korea and deploying enhanced strategic assets in northeast Asia.

“The secretary has made no secret either to the Chinese or to you, the media, of his conviction that there is much more that China can do by way of applying leverage”, said the official, who added that the U.S. hopes China would work with them, South Korea and Japan in doing so.

But his counterpart Wang Yi proposed no sanctions would be supported by China.

“China has given a commitment of not engaging in so-called militarization, and we will honor that commitment”, he said, according to Reuters.

Perhaps the dividends from the Iran nuclear deal may be a better incentive to nudge North Korea towards instituting nuclear controls as attempts to impose fresh restrains on its supply line at this point are likely to have little effect.

“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. The latter cast doubts on its effectiveness and the burden of its high cost, as well as being concerned of worsening relations with China, analysts said.

Wang said China’s stance on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is clear, consistent and responsible, and will not be changed by any single incident or affected by sentiment.

“Our position will not be swayed by specific events or the temporary mood of the moment”, he said.

“North Korea conducted a nuclear test in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions and we, of course, have discussed it…”

“The new resolution should aim to bring the Korean peninsula nuclear issue back to the negotiating table, rather than stirring up tension or causing chaos on the peninsula”, Wang said.

Wang rejected accusations from the USA and others that China was not interested in peaceful resolutions to the disputes.

“I think the U.S is not pretending anymore”, she added.