China’s Conduct in Containing North Korea’s Barbarism

In a joint declaration given during the opening of the conference this week in Washington, Japan, the United States and South Korea requested that China play a more active role in preventing North Korea’s provocations. In order to contain any further acts of brutality, China must show a more concrete resolve.

The declaration confirmed the alliance between South Korea, Japan and the U.S. concerning the provocative and illegal actions of North Korea, including the bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island and the establishment of a uranium enrichment facility for increased nuclear development. To strengthen security coordination, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has been dispatched to South Korea and Japan.

Due to the North’s attack on South Korea, the U.S. and South Korea continued to expand their joint military exercises until the Dec. 1. Japan also began joint maneuvers with America, as they started naval firing practice with South Korea. This is the second time in one year that these U.S.-Korea combined maneuvers have come under consideration. In strengthening the unity between these three countries, they have to attain a certain amount of pressure once they have begun to curb North Korea’s rampage.

However, what’s more important is finding a way to reform North Korea’s provocative, warlike nature. For that reason, it goes without saying that they would ask China, who carries a lot of clout with North Korea, to play a part in the negotiations.

As the chair of the of the six party talks, China proposed an emergency meeting, but Japan, South Korea and the U.S. unconditionally refused to attend the opening. American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed that even though China was the current chair of the six party talks, they were too strongly tethered to North Korea. China must first show their resolve in playing out their special role as the reformer of North Korea’s behavior. I think that’s only natural.

Before Japan, America and South Korea’s foreign minister’s conference, China and America’s heads of state had their first telephone discussion since the bombardment incident. President Hu Jintao expressed deep concern, expressing that if we don’t find an appropriate way to deal with the increasing tension in Korea, it might grow out of control.

North Korea is the one who is deliberately raising the tension in the Korean peninsula. It seems that before China can pursue a dialogue with either country, they first need to show clear criticism of North Korea’s violent acts and more forcefully persuade them to create an environment in which they are more open to nuclear abandonment and other major issues.

In response to North Korea’s bombardment and taking of civilian life, a preliminary investigation has been started in an international court to judge whether it is a war crime or not. The building of the uranium enrichment facility is in violation of the U.N. Security Council’s demand for North Korea to cease all nuclear programs. China is also in agreement with this decision.

If we just fold their hands passively and wait, North Korea will continue the shelling or even launch missiles, and the threat of a second nuclear test is continuously magnifying South Korea’s fears to an almost unbearable level. The point of this argument is that there is no guarantee that China will face the issue. I must urge China to change their attitude and immediately dispatch special envoys to North Korea to admonish them. It is China’s duty, as a major power, to protect the peace and stability of Northeast Asia.