China expressed concern about the tests but typically vaguely said that
reaction should be “constructive” urging all parties not to aggravate tensions
in the region. North Korea is an ally of China since the 1950s and seen as a
prop against US-backing South Korea and Japan. The tone and timing contrasted
with the condemnations issued by other world and regional powers and the grim
assessments issued by China's foreign-policy community members. China provides
critical fuel, food and other economic assistance to the diplomatically
isolated Pyongyang Government. China is the main trading partner, and it
contributes the lion's share of foreign investment into the North's struggling
economy. While the Taepodong-2 missile appeared to be a complete flop, crashing
after 40 seconds, Chinese analysts say that international uproar over the tests
would make it even more difficult for China to juggle its North Korea ties with
its hopes for smooth relations with Washington and its partners. They say that
the failure only shows that Pyongyang has not made any technical progress in
the last 10 years.
Russia voiced grave concern over North Korea's missile tests. A Russian
Foreign Ministry statement said these actions “run counter to the expectations
of the international community and its efforts to strengthen peace and
stability in the region and could complicate the settlement of the nuclear
problem on the Korean peninsula.” Apparently, two of the missiles reportedly
splashed down in the sea a few dozen kilometers from Russia's Far Eastern city
of Nakhodka. The North Korean ambassador in Moscow was summoned to the Foreign
Ministry over the incident and told that “The launch has threatened shipping in
the Pacific Ocean and violated common practices of advanced missile launch
warning.” Russian spokesman said Russia would "take a most active part" in the
U.N. Security Council meeting. However, a senior Russian legislator said Moscow
would not support sanctions against Pyongyang. Russia acknowledges that the
missile tests were a “provocation” which “seriously aggravates the situation
around the Korean nuclear program.”
US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley took a simplistic view saying that
the multiple firings posed no threat to US territory and that the launches
might have been an attempt by Pyongyang to steal the spotlight away from Iran,
which has been the main focus of US nuclear diplomacy in recent months.
“Obviously, it is a bit of an effort to get attention, perhaps because so much
attention has been focused on the Iranians.”
This is a strange conclusion given that the threat perception from a nuclear
armed North Korea now armed with long-range missiles and a history of
proliferation. Investigators found that North Korea bartered missile technology
with Pakistan in return for nuclear weapons technology with complete approval
from and knowledge of China.
It is not clear what options are really available to the world community. The
country is already isolated economically, diplomatically, militarily, and
politically. Russia is opposed to further sanctions and China will oppose any
strong statements. Japan said it would consider immediate economic sanctions
against North Korea as it had banned visits by North Korean ferries for six
months. But these are symbolic gestures which will fail to change autocrat Kim
Jong’s mind. The multi-party talks sponsored by China have foundered since
November, with North Korea refusing to take part while Washington threatens
financial sanctions based on claims the North laundered money earned from drug
trafficking and counterfeiting US currency. Chinese claim that it has very
little influence over Jong even though there is continued diplomatic, economic,
and personal bonhomie between the two communist nations.
After the inconclusive truce which halted the 1950-1953 Korean conflict, the
two Koreas are technically still at war for more than half a century with
30,000 US troops remaining in South Korea under a mutual defense treaty.
