Tensions remain high along the demilitarized zone after South Korea resumed propaganda broadcasts last week against North Korea in retaliation to the January 6 nuclear test by the Kim Jong Un regime.
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South Korea’s delegation, center, led by Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Hwang Joon-kook, center top, USA delegation, right, and Japan’s delegation, left, attend at their meeting to discuss a variety of bilateral and multilateral responses to the North Korea’s nuclear test in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016.
But Park’s entreaties went largely ignored at the regular foreign ministry briefing in Beijing, where the spokesman reiterated China’s standard line about working with all interested parties to resolve the issue and achieve a “durable pace” in the region.
“The peninsula should not have nuclear weapons”, the South Korean leader said during a press-conference, adding that South Korea “has obligations to the global community and it will carry them out”.
“The president’s remark was coordinated in advance within the government”, a presidential aide told the JoongAng Ilbo.
Earlier Wednesday, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye called for “punitive actions” against the North following the nuclear test, saying it was an “unacceptable challenge” to the globe’s security.
“Amongst people in cities that have more access to foreign information and are the most switched on, there is likely more ambivalence or even cynicism over the use of precious resources for things that bring no tangible benefit to the people and cause worsening relations with the outside world”, said Park.
Park said South Korea will continue its loudspeaker campaign, calling it “the surest and most effective psychological warfare tool”.
“China’s basic stance is that the North Korean nuclear problem should be resolved through negotiations”, Cheong Seong Chang, a senior analyst at the Sejong Institute near Seoul, said by text message.
Noting Beijing’s public admonishments of Kim’s regime over its nuclear program, Park said it was time for China to move beyond rhetoric. “I believe China will play a necessary role as a standing member of the U.N. Security Council”.
Which means the six-party talks members will cooperate on ways to promote adoption of the United Nations Security Council resolution, which will impose new sanctions on Pyongyang. Meanwhile, under United Nations resolutions, North Korea is banned from furthering any ballistic missile activity. “During this process, China’s role is important”.
The footage of the submarine test aired on the North Korean State television.
Eyeing that leverage, Ms. Park made a strategic bet soon after taking office in 2013 to foster close ties with Beijing. When she was a president-elect, Park sent an envoy to China before sending one to the United States.
It wouldn’t be the first time the North’s claims have turned out to be fakes. But despite Xi’s proclamation that the China-South Korea relationship “has become the best-ever national relationship in history”, Seoul is not having much luck changing China’s traditional approach to North Korea.
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South Korea, like many other countries, sees China as a pivotal figure in blunting North Korea’s military adventurism.
