Pop stars, diplomacy victims of cooling China-S. Korea ties

“Rather than taking issue with our purely defensive action, China should raise issue in a stronger manner with North Korea which is breaking peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and Northeast by conducting four nuclear tests and, just this year, launching more than 10 ballistic missiles”, Park said.

The issue of deployment of the US made missile defense system was first brought up in the aftermath of Pyongyang’s long-range missile launch early this year, with Seoul and Washington saying THAAD can be a protection against North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile capabilities.

China had wanted the statement to say that a new ballistic missile interception base should not be deployed on the Korean Peninsula on the pretext of North Korea’s military provocations, according to the official and United Nations sources.

The Chinese demand, however, was rejected by the veto-wielding US, thwarting the UNSC procedure to issue a press statement over the launching of the missiles, the official noted.

According to Reuters, China told the council: “We believe that the response of the council is based on violation of Security Council resolutions, not the place where the missile impacted”.

Beijing, Pyongyang’s long-time ally, has been reluctant in tightening its grip on North Korea sanctions with some criticizing China is throwing the ball on the South Korean court.

The polarization at the Council may present a tough challenge for the permanent members, five in total, in adopting a new statement condemning North Korea’s test-firing of ballistic missiles last Wednesday, one of which landed in Japanese territorial waters. Their opposition is mainly due to the fear that the battery’s AN/TPY-2 radar could spy on the military activities and missile capabilities of China.

One of the missiles fired on August 3 landed in waters near Japan for the first time, causing security jitters in the island nation. And since the announcement of the site in South Korea where THAAD is expected to be stationed, Beijing has seemingly started a backlash on South Korea’s travel and entertainment industries, … while staying reluctant to punish Pyongyang for its continuing missile provocations.

China should maintain its responsibility as a permanent member of the UNSC as it has committed itself to the adoption of Resolution 2270 and promised to faithfully implement it, the ministry stressed.