Posted on 10/19/2006 6:33:24 PM PDT by blam
China tells Kim not to carry out second nuclear test
By Richard Spencer in Beijing
Last Updated: 1:54am BST 20/10/2006
China delivered a blunt message to North Korea yesterday when it told its leader, Kim Jong-il, that he must not proceed with a second nuclear weapons test.
After China's state media suggested for the first time that Beijing might sever North Korea's oil supplies, a move which could conceivably precipitate the collapse of Kim's regime, a senior envoy arrived in Pyongyang to hand down a "personal message" from China's president, Hu Jintao.
Condoleezza Rice and South Korean foreign minister Ban Ki-moon in Seoul
China did not confirm what the message said, but American officials said they believed it to be a strongly worded warning.
The pressure from Kim's powerful neighbour appeared to be part of a co-ordinated international attempt to threaten him to come into line.
It came as Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, arrived in the South Korean capital, Seoul, to reinforce the United States' own threat that it would seek to toughen sanctions agreed at the United Nations if North Korea went ahead with a second test.
Miss Rice said negotiations were still possible, but added of the Chinese diplomat's visit: "I hope [China] has been successful in saying to North Korea that there is really only one path, which is denuclearisation and dismantlement of its programmes."
advertisementSatellite pictures this week spotted signs of activity around the site of last week's test, leading to suggestions that a second might be imminent. Kim has shown no signs of bowing to pressure other than agreeing to the meeting yesterday.
Kim's meeting with Tang Jiaxuan, a Chinese state councillor and former foreign minister, was his first with any representative of the outside world since North Korea conducted its test last week.
That he agreed to meet Mr Tang could be a sign that he is starting to feel pressure from the international community. He has been known to snub even senior Chinese leaders. "It's a sign that they are at least engaging," said one western diplomat.
But an official travelling with Miss Rice said: "Our understanding is that the North Koreans have not been in the mood to return to talks. If anything they are looking to escalate the crisis further."
The meeting was confirmed by both the Chinese and North Korean sides. "Discussed were the issues of developing the relations of friendship between the two countries and ensuring peace and security on the Korean Peninsula," was the bland report of the meeting by the Korean Central News Agency.
The Chinese foreign ministry did not give details of the meeting's outcome, but said: "This is a very significant visit, against the backdrop of major changes on the Korean Peninsula."
A spokesman did not say what China thought those changes were, but the two countries are formally allied, committed to coming to each other's defence if either is attacked. Since the same spokesman queried a journalist's use of the term "ally" last week,
Chinese academics have been wondering whether this relationship can continue. "I think the alliance is over, to be replaced by something like 'normal friendly relations'," said one.
A sign of serious deterioration in the relationship was provided by the overseas edition of the Communist Party mouthpiece, People's Daily.
"North Korea's nuclear test touched China's warning line," said the paper. "If North Korea doesn't cease from behaviour that might worsen the situation… China might stop providing oil and grain to North Korea."
The threat was contributed by a senior researcher at a government think-tank. Although it represented his personal opinion, the newspaper has historically been used by the party to hint at changes of policy and the piece was unlikely to have been published without serious consideration of its implications.
Three years ago, China briefly cut off North Korea's supplies of oil, of which it provides about 90 per cent, to persuade it to join talks on its nuclear weapons programme. China is also thought to provide half of North Korea's grain imports.
Looks like "the worst secretary of state in American history, Condi Rice" (according to Michael Savage) is making some progress in her trip to NE asia.
China is the only reasonable solution to the NK problem.
NK, Pakistan and Iran have the Chinese bomb design.
Hugo Chavez will offer to help for "humanitarian" reasons.
Sounds like China now knows a loos cannon loaded with a nuke is bad for business.
Kim is like a rabid dog, with his master loading the shotgun.
Good buy Old Yeller, booooom!
NK, Pakistan and Iran have the Chinese bomb design.
Which tells me that Red China doesn't want to solve the NK problem (unless, of course, they have lost control of Krazy Kim).
Some years ago I had speculated that the only way to get China's attention is the prospect of a re-armed Japan. I suspect that the recent shift in the Japanese political situation has affected diplomacy (i.e. Nothing will get China's attention quicker than a re-armed Japan--along with a revised Constitution).
While this might be a good warning, does anyone really believe that it will have any effect on Kim? The man is obviously insane and seems to be begging for someone to wage war on his country. There is no way possible to reason with someone so irrational. It is a sad reflection on the people of North Korea that there is not a single person with enough courage to get rid of him.
OK here is the plan. We don't like the USA anymore than you do, but we have to keep up an appearance of being cooperative with them.
So we will give the appearance of cracking down on you, and you can then go to Iran and sell them a nuclear bomb or two, or at least sell them the technology on how to make one. A supply of money and oil from Iran will keep you in business. - tom
with your insight, add this.China surely has their
John Wilkes Booth planted in NK. If the nutbag is actually
over the edge and intends to test again,he's out physically
or he is repremended all meaning it's China's play not NK
So the real demon in the stream is about to show
her hand.
"If China invades you, who are you going to call?"
Kim Jong-il is so delusional that he probably thinks that he is God, and with a few nukes he could rule the world. He obviously is totally unaware that the US has a reputed 250 plus nuclear devices ready to go. Many of these “Nukes” are on subs stationed near his coast.
If this little bastard had any smarts, he would either keep his mouth shut and enjoy his dictatorship (hoping his subjects don’t rebel) until his demise or ask another country to accept him and his money.
This is a slam dunk for Condi and the US.
By now Condi has explained the following to Chinese authorities:
Are you having trouble controlling your rogue state North Korea?
What a coincidence! We are also having trouble controlling our rogue democracies.
It looks like Japan may also prolif.
Who knows rogue South Korea may also prolif.
It looks like Taiwan also has some interests in this area. And as you know, it is very hard to control these rogue states. END OF COMMUNICATION
Rest assured, China has gotten the message and Kim Jong Il's days are numbered. I would not rule out Chinese assasination. Cutting of the oil is probably the mildest of solutions.
Anyone remember the "train accident" a few years ago, where the Dear Leadeer's train blew up, but he wasn't on it, or some such?
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