China very likely backed or at least encouraged this "missle strike" by NK in order to gauge US action and response to it. How far can they push without us pushing back? The world,whose opinion I generally disdain, wants to know. I dont give a hoot for the opinion but I do care that they know the US wont take any sh..t.
It is dangerous to assert such based on assumptions. China has had this nutcase over seven times to see the benefits of liberalizing an economy. I'd say they have tried to do their part. Maybe they have about as much control over NK as Bush has over Schwartzneger sending NG troops to border.
Oh, no doubt. It's well known that Kim is a puppet of China. Any "concern" showed by China - which could wipe DPRNK off the map any time the Chinese government chose, is a lie to make it seem as though China has given up on it's imperialist tendancies.
Also, remember China had Kim throw one of his nuclear hissy fits just in time to distract us from military action in Iraq....now there's this problem with Iranian aggression...coincidence? I think not. China is/was a heavy trading partner in crime of all three regimes.