U.S. demanded China to resolve stalemate in 6 party talks by July(is the DEADLINE)

[Washington] It has been known today that U.S. recently asked China, the chair-nation of 6-party talks, to resolve the (current) situation by July, 2005, so that N. Korea can return to the negotiation table, according to sources on U.S.-China relations. It appears that they have put pressure through China in order to block the preparation for N. Korean nuclear test, which is the cherished goal of the International Community.

In addition to the coincidence that coming late June is the one year anniversary of 6 party talk, the deep frustration that N. Korea is aggravationg the situation by what appears to be the activities to press forward for nuclear test must have drove U.S to set the dead line, which would strongly compel China, fearing the collapse of 6 party talk, to persuade N. Korea.

The sources pointed out, "Everything changes if N. Korea goes ahead with nuclear test." In such a case, the matter will be forwarded, without delay, to the U.N. Security Council to debate on sanction.

The following is an excerpt from an article in Pressian, a left-wing S. Korean daily. It quotes a former Assemblyman Chang Sung-min who has some high level contacts in China. He also mentions the July deadline.

http://www.pressian.co.kr/scripts/section/article.asp?article_num=30050509075543&s_menu=??

/begin my translation

Chinese government, "U.S. to bomb Yongbyon Nuclear complex in July" (05/09/05)

...../snip

What worries us more seriously is the talk of 'July Crisis' coming out of China

Recently I had phone conversation with high level figures in Chinese government. He told me that Chinese top leadership is unusually tense now because there are words circulating among high officials, to the effect, "U.S. would bomb Yongbyon(nuclear complex) in coming July."

However, the essence of 'July Crisis' talk is not that U.S. would attack N. Korea, but "China would not directly intervene to the military conflict between U.S. and N. Korea, unless U.S. bombs land on Chinese soil." Of course, the veracity of this story is not clear yet. Still, it is worthwhile to note the fact that such a story is floating around reflects the changing reality of Sino-N. Korean relations and U.S.-China relations.

China is playing a masquerade. It takes public diplomatic stance that it will protect and safeguard N. Korea, but when U.S. actually bombs Yongbyon complexes, it would not want to be involved.

/snip......

/end my translation

The following is from Interfax in Russia. It sounds as if China would sit out and let the deadline pass. Maybe China wants U.S. and N. Korea to have at it whether they talk it over or shoot at each other.

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=11281536

May 10 2005 12:38PM

China against putting pressure on North Korea for more talks

BEIJING. May 10 (Interfax-China) - China is opposed to putting any pressure on North Korea to force it to agree to the resumption of the six-nation talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

There have been three rounds of negotiations that brought together North and South Korea, China, Japan, the United States, and Russia, but the talks have been stalled since February 2005.

China is against putting pressure on and sanctions against North Korea and considers them ineffective, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a briefing.

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