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.
Think Dear Leader is even capable of listening to reason?
Gee,I wonder what the Chinese might be telling Kim Mentally Ill *privately*.
Hey, he's living on love right now, new bride and all.
His bar is stocked, plenty of goodies in the frig, this mental midget is willing to go the distance.
Awwwww, comon Kimmy... You're not going to let those dog eaters in China push you around, are you?
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.
FINALLY!
Wow, after all the crap about Bush not getting into unilateral nogotiations, presto, multlateral seems to work.
China has propped this Idiot up his whole life. Im sure he will listen unless he has a death wish.
I think you're right. He's been spewing propaganda to the masses so long he believes his own bullsh!t.
I was wondering if meglomaniacs have the ability to worry about the cause/effect aspects of possible events.
The classic pattern is "We cannot be defeated, because I am the great leader and it victory is my destiny. But if we do lose, it's because the people aren't worthy of me or their fatherland". I don't think they care about the consequenses, because nothing is ever their fault in their mind.
The average NKer should eat so well.
Seriesly, maybe the ChiComs aren't liking the projected wind patterns too well anymore, or maybe they're not confident in their ex-Soviet Sovremennys' ability to defeat Aegis, or maybe they're realizing they can't control Krazy Kim the Younger like they did Krazy Kim the Elder. Whatever the reason, 'tis an interesting development.
I hope you're right.
Telling the nutcase that five minutes after the polls close on November 7th. NK will be glowing!
I hope this is accurate. This is the only out I see at this point. Kim will never respond to what we do short of war and he definately will not be moved by that stupid debating society called the UN. But China has the power to cut Kim off at the knees.
Boy,nuking NK might be tricky.We'd pretty much have to get permission from China if we don't want China shooting at us.
Yet another classic S(l)ick Willie legacy.
Don't forget Halfbright.
Not us nuking them. Us dropping bombs on their nukes.
It'll be OK, as long as the message states they strenuously object.
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