Sanctions against N.Korea hardly effective: analyst

• Source: Global Times
• [07:20 June 12 2009]
• Comments

The undated photo released on June 6, 2009 by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows Kim Jong Il (1st L, front), top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), inspects a factory in Tanchon city in South Hamgyong-Do province of DPRK. (Xinhua/KCNA)

By Qiu Wei in Beijing and Zhou Zhiran in Pyongyang

China said Thursday it had participated in discussions toward a UN draft resolution sanctioning North Korea for its recent nuclear test and missile launches but called for "appropriate and balanced" measures. Analysts predict that more effective sanctions will infuriate North Korea but China would rather have an unfriendly but denuclearized neighbor.

China joined other countries in the latest strong-worded resolution condemning the North's actions, while insisting the resolution be "conducive to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and peace and stability in Northeast Asia," Qin Gang, a Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters at a press conference yesterday.

The draft, written by the United States and endorsed by the four other permanent members of the Security Council, plus Japan and South Korea, calls for nations to inspect all cargo to and from North Korea in their territory, including seaports and airports, when there is reason to believe it contains banned items related to the country's nuclear and missile activities, according to the AFP news agency.

Qin didn't explicitly answer whether or not China would support the inspection of North Korean cargo, though world media outlets said the draft resolution's passage was virtually a certainty and could happen as early as today.

Beijing and Moscow had opposed language in earlier drafts requiring all countries to inspect North Korean ships carrying suspicious cargo that might violate a partial UN trade and arms embargo.

Some analysts believe that if passed, the resolution could spark a sharp reaction from the North. Zhang Liangui, professor of international strategic research at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, told the Global Times the resolution would trigger a strong reaction in terms of North Korea's "attitude" only.

"In the stereotyped mentality of North Korean leadership, China is obliged to support them," Zhang said. "It is against the international norm that North Korea, failing to keep China well informed on major issues, has always been demanding."

"It is time for China to make a choice between a nuclearized and lawless North Korea and a nuclear-free but unfriendly neighbor," Zhang said, noting that China is entitled to make a wise choice, and it has to do so.

But some foreign-affairs scholars say China's support of the resolution doesn't signal a shift in Beijing's North Korea policy.