Displeased China calls in North Korean ambassador over nuclear test

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Cherrie Lou Billones in Features, Politics with 5 Comments
Displeased China calls in North Korean ambassador over nuclear test

In a statement posted at the official website of China’s Foreign Ministry, it seems like North Korean ambassador Ji Jae Ryong was rebuked by Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi yesterday, February 12, because of the nuclear test performed by Pyongyang at about noon on the same day. It was said that Yang expressed China’s “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” to the test. It also said that Yang “demanded that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea side cease talk that further escalates the situation and swiftly return to the correct channel of dialogue and negotiation.”

The meeting was significant because the ministry would only call upon diplomats when it is extremely irritated—recall issues on United States arms sales to Taiwan and Japan’s purchase of disputed islands. Indeed, it showed China’s anger and frustration at North Korea’s actions. And yet, the statement gave no view as to concrete actions the government plans to take in relation to the nuclear test. Incredulously, after said meeting, North Korea came out with a warning that the test is just the beginning. It said that it will proceed with “second and third measures of greater intensity” should the United States maintain its hostility. Of course, Pyongyang remained enigmatic in its threats, as it usually does.

While China gave no proposals on how to go about dealing with North Korea, it is not difficult to decipher that the Asian super power is growing weary, annoyed, and frustrated with its ally. Yesterday was a public holiday in the country, and it is not surprising that many citizens found it disrespectful that Pyongyang would conduct a nuclear test at a place less than 100 kilometers from the border, on the same day when everyone was celebrating with their families.

[via Fox News]
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  • ozonator

    My condolences to everyone in the region.

  • Far East

    “China’s “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition” to the test” ?

    Yeah right, this is all for the show like last time a few years back. I bet they actually celebrated it, and devised other ways to deceive the world with their common double standard and other treachery.

    • Banlas theway

      At least China fight for peace whereas the japanese are still a hostile bastards like North Koreans.

      • Far East

        This is the other way around, ie the hostile and belligerent one is China. See, it is legally impossiblel for Japan to be hostile, since it has a Constitution that ban itself, to aggressive acts.
        This Constitution was actually the best thing that happened to Japan, because since the end of WWII it has been a peace loving and very prosper nation. Even now in a time of sluggish economy, people are still so happy that they coined the economy “happy depression” :-)
        Anyway, the hostile country is materially China and its big buddy North Korea.
        China can always dream of stealing Japanese territory like it did with The Philippines or with Vietnam…

  • Shuami

    China is obviously not pleased with the prospect of a nuclear NK as its neighbor. However, as pointed out by Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin University in Seoul, in a commentary piece on Washington Post (“North Korea likely to face tough unilateral sanctions for its nuke test, but will China join?”, http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/north-korea-likely-to-face-tough-unilateral-sanctions-for-its-nuke-test-but-will-china-join/2013/02/14/1c4f35f2-7680-11e2-b102-948929030e64_story.html):
    China’s “unpleasant choice is between a nuclear, relatively stable North Korea, and a non-nuclear but unstable North Korea.” For China, political collapse in North Korea “is a greater evil than North Korea’s nuclear adventures”.

    In another article (“The reality of a nuclear North Korea”, http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/335995/the-reality-of-a-nuclear-north-korea) running on Bangkok Post, the author observed: “North Korea has pursued the nuclear weapon path at very high cost over
    two decades not for prestige, legitimacy, bargaining leverage, or
    because of irrationality as often presumed in the West. These
    presumptions were essentially self-serving fig leaves for policy. The
    international community _ the US and its allies in Asia as well as China
    _ failed to address the real concern of national security that has
    driven the North Korea nuclear weapon programme.”
    So what would be the possible outcome from all of this?
    “A nuclear North Korea does not necessarily lead to nuclear
    proliferation in Northeast Asia. The domino theory holds that Japan and
    South Korea may follow suit. While both countries have security concerns
    relating to North Korea, Japan and South Korea are covered by the
    extended nuclear deterrence commitment of the United States. The US will
    not support the development of nuclear-weapon capability by these
    countries.
    The most likely consequence will be for Japan and South Korea to
    demand firm and effective deterrence commitments as was the case in
    Europe during the Cold War.”