ID :
89021
Wed, 11/11/2009 - 07:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/89021
The shortlink copeid
Clinton thanks China for pressing N. Korea for resumption of nuke talks
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has expressed thanks to China for its efforts to join in international sanctions on North Korea to pressure the reclusive communist state to come out for talks after months of provocations.
"They have been extremely helpful with respect to North Korea," Clinton said in
an interview on the Charlie Rose Show Web site Monday. "They know that they can't
just turn a blind eye to North Korea's provocative behavior, that it's very
destabilizing, and it isn't to be left to others. So they've been playing a much
more involved role in trying to corral the North Koreans."
Clinton was referring to China approving U.N. Security Council resolutions for
sanctioning the North for its nuclear and missile tests.
China, the biggest benefactor of its isolated communist neighbor, has long been
reluctant to join international efforts to sanction North Korea.
Clinton and other U.S. officials, however, have recently expressed satisfaction
with the level of cooperation China has rendered in implementing the financial
sanctions and an overall arms embargo stipulated under the recent U.N.
resolutions.
"Look at what we achieved with North Korea," Clinton said. "We got China and
Russia, along with Japan and South Korea, working with us to impose the toughest
sanctions ever. Now, why then is North Korea beginning to say they want to talk?
They want to talk because they see a united front against them."
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il recently expressed his intention to return to the
six-party talks, which he has boycotted over the international sanctions. He
conditioned the resumption of the negotiations on the outcome of bilateral talks
with the U.S.
The Obama administration is likely to announce soon its plans to send Stephen
Bosworth, special representative for North Korea policy, to Pyongyang to persuade
the North to return to the multilateral nuclear forum.
The breakthrough for the North's possible return to the six-party talks, hosted
by China since 2003, came early last month when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
visited Pyongyang to commemorate the 60th anniversary of normalization of ties
between the two communist allies.
But China is walking a thin line with North Korea.
Wen at that time pledged massive economic aid and investment plans, including
construction of a bridge on a river connecting the sides, spawning concerns that
such aid will undermine international efforts to sanction the North.
Despite seemingly close cooperation between the U.S. and China in sanctioning the
North, many experts predict China will place priority on improving ties with the
North.
China, trying to emerge as an economic power to rival the United States, does not
want a nuclear-armed North Korea to destabilize regional security, but it also
does not welcome a collapse of the regime, leading to a flood of refugees and
possibly a unified Korea under the influence of the U.S.
"China is the only outside country that could materially influence what the North
Koreans are doing," said Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign
Relations. "They (the Chinese) are not prepared to do it because they're worried
about bringing it down and seeing ultimately a united Korea, under the South,
that's part of the American orbit."
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has expressed thanks to China for its efforts to join in international sanctions on North Korea to pressure the reclusive communist state to come out for talks after months of provocations.
"They have been extremely helpful with respect to North Korea," Clinton said in
an interview on the Charlie Rose Show Web site Monday. "They know that they can't
just turn a blind eye to North Korea's provocative behavior, that it's very
destabilizing, and it isn't to be left to others. So they've been playing a much
more involved role in trying to corral the North Koreans."
Clinton was referring to China approving U.N. Security Council resolutions for
sanctioning the North for its nuclear and missile tests.
China, the biggest benefactor of its isolated communist neighbor, has long been
reluctant to join international efforts to sanction North Korea.
Clinton and other U.S. officials, however, have recently expressed satisfaction
with the level of cooperation China has rendered in implementing the financial
sanctions and an overall arms embargo stipulated under the recent U.N.
resolutions.
"Look at what we achieved with North Korea," Clinton said. "We got China and
Russia, along with Japan and South Korea, working with us to impose the toughest
sanctions ever. Now, why then is North Korea beginning to say they want to talk?
They want to talk because they see a united front against them."
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il recently expressed his intention to return to the
six-party talks, which he has boycotted over the international sanctions. He
conditioned the resumption of the negotiations on the outcome of bilateral talks
with the U.S.
The Obama administration is likely to announce soon its plans to send Stephen
Bosworth, special representative for North Korea policy, to Pyongyang to persuade
the North to return to the multilateral nuclear forum.
The breakthrough for the North's possible return to the six-party talks, hosted
by China since 2003, came early last month when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
visited Pyongyang to commemorate the 60th anniversary of normalization of ties
between the two communist allies.
But China is walking a thin line with North Korea.
Wen at that time pledged massive economic aid and investment plans, including
construction of a bridge on a river connecting the sides, spawning concerns that
such aid will undermine international efforts to sanction the North.
Despite seemingly close cooperation between the U.S. and China in sanctioning the
North, many experts predict China will place priority on improving ties with the
North.
China, trying to emerge as an economic power to rival the United States, does not
want a nuclear-armed North Korea to destabilize regional security, but it also
does not welcome a collapse of the regime, leading to a flood of refugees and
possibly a unified Korea under the influence of the U.S.
"China is the only outside country that could materially influence what the North
Koreans are doing," said Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign
Relations. "They (the Chinese) are not prepared to do it because they're worried
about bringing it down and seeing ultimately a united Korea, under the South,
that's part of the American orbit."
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
