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Thanks to TigerLikesRooster for this translation and thread.
The following post is a quote:
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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666138/posts

China Drowning In 'A Swamp Called N. Korea'
Munhwa Ilbo ^ | 07/14/06

Posted on 07/15/2006 2:25:30 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

China Drowning In A 'Swamp Called N. Korea'

/begin my translation

China Drowning In A 'Swamp Called N. Korea'

Huh Min

"This is really depressing," deplores a reputable ethnic Korean professor teaching political science at a prestigious educational institution in Beijing, China, when he met the reporter on July 13. The comment reflects the sense of resignation that China has tried everything to defuse N. Korean missile crisis as if its life depended on it, but failed in the end, rendering all possible means useless. His comment was full of disappointment at N. Korea, his grandfather's country, and Kim Jong-il regime.

Truly, the dismay and embarrassment Chinese authorities felt in last several days is indescribable. Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei went to Pyongyang to persuade N. Korea, Foreign Minister Li Zhao-xing has met Christopher Hill, the Assistant Secretary of State, two times in a single week, and pleaded not to abandon diplomatic efforts. China has vigorously opposed the draft of sanction on N. Korea, proposed at UN Security Council.

Still, N. Korea refused to heed China's advice that it should return to 6-party talks. China, the closest ally and the biggest aid donor, and the unconditional supporter (of N. Korea,) lost face badly. One diplomatic observer in Beijing commented, "China is drowning in a swamp called N. Korea. I wonder if N. Korea, which spurned China's desperate plea, even retains any trace of sound judgement and rationality."

If things remain this way, China cannot help but accommodate mood of international community. South China Morning Post of Hong Kong reported in its July 13th issue, "All attention will be paid to Chinese President Hu Jintao at G-8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, held between July 15th and 17th."

If 6-party talk is stalled in an extended period of time, while U.S. and Japan keep up pressure, China would be cornered to make a forced diplomatic choice. Negotiation phase is already over, sanction phase has begun, and China is on board for such action, albeit marginally. I wonder how soon China could get out of N. Korea swamp.

Huh Min / Beijing correspondent

/end my translation