The Chinese government once again claimed to be North Korea’s ‘backbencher’ at the UN Security Council. This comes less than two days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the Korea-China foreign ministers’ meeting on the 26th that he would “play a constructive role in easing the situation on the Korean Peninsula.”
The Security Council discussed response plans to North Korea’s launch of a reconnaissance satellite on the 21st of this month at a meeting on the 27th (local time), but this time it ended ’empty-handed’.
The Security Council’s resolution on sanctions against North Korea, which aims to halt North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, prohibits the launch of all North Korean ballistic missiles and aircraft using such technology. Since space launch vehicles for satellites also use ballistic missile technology, North Korea’s satellite launch is also a violation of Security Council resolutions, regardless of its success or failure.
However, China’s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Geng Shuang justified North Korea’s satellite launch by saying at the meeting that day, “No country can pursue its own absolute security at the expense of the security of other countries.” “Launching a reconnaissance satellite is an exercise of the right to self-defense,” which is in line with North Korea’s Workers’ Party General Secretary Kim Jong-un’s recent remarks.
China, one of North Korea’s key allies, is a permanent member of the Security Council and has absolute veto power in the decision-making process within the Security Council. This is also true for Russia.
Until 2017, both China and Russia participated in the adoption of various sanctions resolutions in response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations. However, since last year, when North Korea resumed test launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) for the first time in five years, whenever there has been discussion at the Security Council level about responding to North Korea’s provocations, they have repeatedly put the brakes on it by insisting that the United States is responsible and that sanctions are useless. .
For this reason, the Security Council has not been able to adopt even the chairman’s statement and press statement on North Korea, which are not legally binding, over the past two years. The same thing was repeated with regard to North Korea’s recent launch of a reconnaissance satellite.
At the Korea-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Foreign Minister Park Jin held in Busan on the 26th, Director Wang, China’s ‘diplomatic command tower’, responded to the request for a ‘constructive role’ in resolving the North Korean issue by saying, “China has always played a constructive role in easing the situation on the Korean Peninsula. “I have done that and will continue to do so in the future,” he said.
According to diplomatic sources, Director Wang did not use expressions such as ‘legitimate security concerns’ regarding the background of North Korea’s provocations during this meeting with Minister Park.
For this reason, some predicted a possible change in the Chinese authorities’ attitude toward North Korea issues, but through the results of this Security Council meeting, “Director Wang revealed China’s principled position.” It was confirmed that the assessment of our officials, who said, “It is not new,” was accurate.
In particular, Deputy Ambassador Geng reiterated the Chinese authorities’ existing position at this Security Council meeting, saying, “Each country must resolve regional concerns, including North Korea’s legitimate security concerns, through dialogue in a balanced manner.”
Meanwhile, experts point out that in order to encourage China’s active involvement in North Korea issues, it is essential to eventually change the mind of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Yang Gap-yong, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy, said, “It is known that President Xi expressed his ‘opposition’ stance three times in the past when the US Forces Korea deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system.” There was nothing the working-level staff could do during China’s ‘retaliatory’ measures. “I think this is still the case,” he said.
Commissioner Yang said, “The issue between Korea and China is ultimately a matter between the leaders. “There is a need to send a message to China at the presidential office level as well,” he predicted. “In the absence of such, China will pursue ‘maintaining the situation.’”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.