China and US agree to ‘very tough’ UN sanctions on North Korea
Beijing and Washington approve draft UN resolution against Pyongyang but tensions flare with Seoul over possible deployment over US missile system
China has agreed on a draft United Nations resolution that would impose tougher sanctions on North Korea amid growing criticism over its handling of Pyongyang’s recent provocations.
But scepticism remains over Beijing’s willingness to rein in its wayward neighbour amid a rare diplomatic spat between China and South Korea over the possible deployment of an American missile defence system.
China and the United States, both UN Security Council members and major stakeholders in the North Korean nuclear crisis, have agreed on a draft resolution that contains “very tough measures” and could be adopted soon, according to UN diplomats.
In a meeting in Washington on Wednesday, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice and China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, agreed on “the importance of a strong and united international response” to Pyongyang’s provocations, according to a White House statement. This would include a UN Security Council resolution that “goes beyond previous resolutions”, the statement said.
READ MORE: US calls for China to do more to rein in North Korea and ease South China Sea tensions
The White House said US President Barack Obama joined the meeting at some point “to underscore his interest in building a durable, constructive and productive US-China relationship.”
Whether a new round of sanctions can effectively halt North Korea’s nuclear activities was unclear, analysts said.
The key is whether China can fulfil ... the UN-mandated obligations
“The key is whether China can faithfully fulfil, in both words and actions, in both flesh and soul, the UN-mandated obligations,” said Lee Seong-hyon, a research fellow with the Sejong Institute. “I think China has made it clear that it could be tough on North Korea, but the degree of its ‘toughness’ will likely fall short of Washington and Seoul’s expectations.”
But Beijing has rejected suggestions that it holds the key to the North Korea issue. Instead, officials and academics have said the crux of the problem is in Washington’s hands.
Li Kaisheng, a researcher with the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said the sanctions would be futile unless Pyongyang returned to the negotiating table. And to do that, the US was the key, he said.
“It’s important that the US refrains from military manoeuvring, especially in its upcoming military drill [with South Korea] so that North Korea can see a way out through negotiation,” Li said.
China has been under international pressure for its reluctance to impose stricter measures in response to North Korea’s nuclear test and missile launch.
Although political ties between the communist allies have deteriorated significantly since Kim Jong-un took power in 2012, Chinese academics say Beijing still considers North Korea an important geopolitical buffer – the value of which outweighs the security risks posed by Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.
READ MORE: ‘Nuclear blackmail’: North Korea’s bomb test raises threat for China
South Korea responded earlier this month by announcing that it was considering deploying a US missile system known as THAAD for its own defence.
This prompted vigorous protests from Beijing, which sees the missile system as an extension of US surveillance on China.
In a rare display of displeasure, China’s ambassador to South Korea warned on Tuesday that bilateral relations would be “destroyed in an instant” if THAAD was deployed.
Qiu Guohong made the remarks in a meeting with Kim Jong-in, the leader of the country’s main opposition party.
His warning immediately drew protests from Seoul. The South Korean foreign ministry summoned Guo for an explanation on Wednesday.
Presidential Office spokesman Jeong Yeon-guk said that whether to deploy THAAD was a matter of self-defence to be decided in accordance with security and national interests. “And China will have to recognise the point,” Jeong said.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse
