TSR-NK-2

Korean Peninsula Crises

American Diplomat Urges China to Consult Over North Korea
(New York Times, Jan. 6, 2012) Assistant Secretary of State M. Kurt Campbell urged China to help restrain the new leadership in the North from military provocations as it goes through a sensitive transition of power.

North Korea Declares Kim Jong-un Supreme Leader
(New York Times, Dec. 30, 2011) North Korea declared the young heir Kim Jong-un supreme head of the country.

Kim Jong Il’s Son Strengthens Power with Senior Political Post
(AP, Dec. 27, 2011) North Korea identified Kim Jong Il's son as head of a top ruling party body, a post that gives him authority over political matters in addition to the military control attributed to him in recent days.

Noda Reaches Out to China on N. Korea
(AP, Dec. 26, 2011) Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reached out for China's help on dealing with North Korea and promoting stability in the closed country after the death of longtime leader Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong-un Cleared As Top Military Commander
(New York Times, Dec. 25, 2011) The state-run media’s call for Kim Jong-un to lead the military suggests that, at least for now, he is on pace to take full control of the country.

Chinese, Japanese PM Hold Talks on Ties, Peninsula Situation
(Xinhua, Dec. 25, 2011) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Japanese Prime Minster Yoshihiko Noda held talks on China-Japan ties and Korean peninsula situation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Missile Tests Halt After Kim’s Death
(Taipei Times, Dec. 21, 2011) In an effort to help maintain security in the East Asia region, the military has now suspended missile tests launched from Taiwan proper and artillery tests conducted on Taiwan’s outlying islands.

China Scrambles for Clues After Kim’s Death
(Sydney Morning Herald, Dec. 19, 2011) It seems that not even China, North Korea's only ally, can predict how North Korea will respond or whether the "Dear Leader's" son and anointed successor, Kim Jong-un, can assume firm control of his starving and nuclear-armed nation.

US: China ‘Obligated’ to Press North Korea to End ‘Belligerence’
(VoA, Nov. 30, 2010) A White House spokesman is calling on China to press North Korea to end what he calls that state's "belligerent behavior."

U.S. and South Korea Begin Joint Naval Exercises
(New York Times, Nov. 28, 2010) The United States and South Korea began naval exercises on Sunday that were meant as a warning to North Korea for recent provocations.

China’s Wen Calls for Peace, Stability on Korean Peninsula
(Bloomberg, Nov. 24, 2010) China’s Premier Wen Jiabao reiterated calls for stability on the Korean peninsula, without signaling any intention to fault ally North Korea for firing a deadly artillery salvo at a South Korean island.

Shots Fired between Two Koreas
(AP, Nov. 24, 2010) North and South Korea exchanged artillery fire after the North shelled an island near their disputed sea border, killing at least two South Korean marines.

U.S. to Send Carrier for Joint Exercises off Korea
(New York Times, Nov. 24, 2010) President Obama and South Korea’s president agreed Tuesday night to hold joint military exercises as a first response to North Korea’s deadly shelling of a South Korean military installation.

Ma Orders Alert on Korean Conflict
(China Post, Nov. 24, 2010) Both President Ma Ying-jeou and Premier Wu Den-yih have instructed government agencies to heighten alert on the ongoing developments on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea and US Shelve Plan to Stage Drill: Report
(AFP, Oct. 25, 2010) South Korea and the US have shelved a plan to stage a major joint exercise later this month in the Yellow Sea, reflecting concerns about China’s objections, a report said.

US, S Korea Begin an Anti-Submarine Drill in Yellow Sea
(AFP, Sep. 28, 2010) The US and South Korea launched a joint anti-submarine exercise yesterday in a show of strength against the North, which is preparing for a key meeting of its ruling party.

Chinese Admiral Says U.S., South Korea Drills ‘Fresh Provocation’ to China (Bloomberg, Aug. 12, 2010) A U.S. decision to use a nuclear- powered aircraft carrier in joint naval drills with South Korea in the Yellow Sea would be “a fresh provocation” to China and its surrounding region, Rear Admiral Yang Yi wrote in a commentary published in China Daily.

U.S. to Send Aircraft Carrier into Waters off China for Drills
(Bloomberg, Aug. 5, 2010) The U.S. will send a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to South Korea’s west coast in the coming months for more joint drills that have sparked opposition from China.

South Korea and U.S. Send Message to North Korea with Drills in Sea of Japan (Washington Post, Jul. 26, 2010) The United States and South Korea on Sunday began a massive joint military exercise designed to show off power and solidarity in a region divided by tensions.

U.S. and South Korea to Announce Joint Military Exercise
(Washington Post, Jul. 15, 2010) Over China's opposition, the United States and South Korea will announce military exercises next week when the U.S. secretaries of state and defense visit Seoul, U.S. officials said.

U.S. Ships Could Move to East Sea for Joint Drill
(Chosun Ilbo, Jul. 13, 2010) South Korea and the U.S. are mulling a joint maritime drill in both the East and West Seas this month after China lodged a protest against a huge U.S. military presence on its doorstep.

Beijing Urges Seoul to Refrain from West Sea Drill
(Chosun Ilbo, Jul. 8, 2010) China has asked the South Korean government through a diplomatic channel to refrain from a join exercise with the U.S. in the West Sea this month.

China’s Navy to Match S Korea-US War Game
(The Australian, Jun. 30, 2010) China has announced its own naval maneuvers in response to those planned by the US and South Korea.

China Returns U.S. Criticism Over Sinking of Korean Ship
(New York Times, Jun. 30, 2010) In a regularly scheduled news conference, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry dismissed American calls for a tough line against North Korea.

Clinton Condemns Attack on South Korean Ship By Mark Landler
(New York Times, May 22, 2010) Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned North Korea on Friday that it would face “consequences” for sinking a South Korean warship in March.

Chinese Premier Calls for Dialogue Between U.S. and North Korea By David Barboza (New York Times, Oct. 10, 2009) China’s prime minister called for the United States and North Korea to engage in a “conscientious and constructive dialogue” aimed at reviving multilateral talks over the North’s nuclear weapons program.

North Korea May Be Open to Talks
(New York Times, Oct. 6, 2009) The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, told the visiting prime minister of China that his government was ready to return to six-nation talks on its nuclear weapons program if it sees progress in bilateral talks with the United States.

North Korea’s Kim Woos China’s Wen on Rare Visit
(Reuters, Oct. 4, 2009) North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il made a rare appearance at Pyongyang's airport to personally greet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the start of a top-level visit likely to test the North's stance on nuclear disarmament.

Chinese PM to Visit North Korea Amid Nuclear Standoff
(Reuters, Sep. 28, 2009) China's prime minister will visit North Korea early next week for a trip that could help revive talks stalled for nearly a year on ending Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.

N. Korea Open to Talks, Kim Tells China
(Washington Post, Sep. 19, 2009) North Korean leader Kim Jong Il told a Chinese diplomat that his government is willing to discuss its nuclear program in "bilateral or multilateral" meetings, China's official news agency said.

North Korea Reveals Second Path to Nuclear Bomb
(New York Times, Sep. 5, 2009) North Korea’s announcement that its experiment in enriching uranium is at “completion stage” marks the strongest signal yet from Pyongyang that it is racing to develop a second method of making nuclear bombs.

China Committed to Enforcing North Korea Sanctions: U.S.
(Reuters, Jul. 30, 2009) China says it is committed to enforcing U.N. sanctions against North Korean companies and individuals linked to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, a U.S. official said.

China to Sanction North Korean Officials Over Nuclear Tests
(Bloomberg, Jul. 14, 2009) China agreed for the first time to punish senior North Korean government officials for defying United Nations resolutions barring nuclear and missile tests, China’s deputy ambassador said.

China Hopes Related Sides of Korean Nuke Issue Remain Calm, Restraint (Xinhua, Jul. 5, 2009) China hopes that relevant parties of Korean nuclear issue stay calm and restraint, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

Russia, China Urge North Korea to Return to Talks
(AP, Jun. 17, 2009) Russia and China urged North Korea on Wednesday to return to the negotiating table on the fate of its rogue nuclear programs.

Major Powers Approve Draft U.N. Resolution on North Korea
(Washington Post, Jun. 11, 2009) The United States, China and other major powers reached agreement on a draft U.N. resolution that imposes additional military, financial and trade sanctions on North Korea.

U.S. Weighs Intercepting North Korean Shipments
(New York Times, Jun. 8, 2009) The Obama administration signaled Sunday that it was seeking a way to interdict, possibly with China’s help, North Korean sea and air shipments suspected of carrying weapons or nuclear technology.

China’s Hu, Obama, Discuss North Korea
(AP, Jun. 3, 2009) President Barack Obama discussed the crisis on the Korean Peninsula with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in a phone call early Wednesday, Chinese state media reported.

Russia and China Back ‘Convincing Response’ to North
(Reuters, Jun. 3, 2009) Russia and China want a “convincing response” to North Korea's nuclear test from the United Nations Security Council, Russia's Foreign Ministry said.

China Ends North Korea Diplomatic Exchanges, Yonhap News Says (Bloomberg, Jun. 1, 2009) China has halted plans to send officials to North Korea and won’t accept visits from Kim’s government either, the Korean- language state-news agency said.

China Army General Says North Korea Must Denuclearize
(Reuters, May 29, 2009) A top Chinese army official called on North Korea to move to denuclearization and asked all regional parties to stay calm after the isolated state's nuclear test this week.

Hunger Pains Test North Korea’s Dynastic Succession By Shim Jae Hoon (YaleGlobal, Feb. 1, 2012) North Korea confronts dire grain shortages that could lead to a third of its population going hungry. Collective leadership likely won’t last long in the rigid state, but aid could delay regime collapse. The US, South Korea, China and Kim Jong Un should prepare.

North Korea: What Not to Do By Victor Cha
(PacNet #1, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Jan. 9, 2012) Because there is so much uncertainty about the situation, it might be more useful to think about things that the US, ROK, and China should not be doing. Response to PacNet #1—North Korea: What Not to Do

Dynasty, North Korean-Style By B. R. Myers
(New York Times, Jan. 8, 2012) The West seems determined to continue paying as little attention to North Korean ideology as possible. The race-thinking pervading the official rhetoric has been ignored.

Amid N. Korea Succession, China Makes Push for Stability By Chico Harlan (Washington Post, Jan. 4, 2012) Pyongyang’s precarious power transfer has narrowed China’s goals on the Korean Peninsula, turning Beijing from a benefactor and adviser into a protector — concerned foremost with preventing collapse, not pushing for improvement.

Beijing Rallies behind Supreme Leader By Yvonne Su
(Asia Times, Jan. 5, 2012) "The conventional wisdom is that China only cares about one thing when it comes to North Korea - stability," John Delury, a researcher on China and the two Koreas at Seoul's Yonsei University, said.

Dealing with North Korea’s New Leader: Getting It Right By Evans Revere (PacNet #70A, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Dec. 27, 2011) While Kim’s demise creates a new dynamic and the leadership transition in Pyongyang raises important questions, it hardly warrants the dire warnings of North Korean adventurism, implosion, or near-term collapse that have been issued by some analysts and commentators.

North Korea Condemns South Korea, Vows No Policy Changes By Chico Harlan (Washington Post, Dec. 30, 2011) North Korea indicated that it will navigate this latest transition by relying on a familiar strategy, using outside enemies to keep its own people united.

China Praises Kim Jong Il Despite Sometimes Strained Ties By Barbara Demick (LA Times, Dec. 24, 2011) Since Kim's death was announced, the Chinese government has practically outdone the North Korean propaganda machine in its adulation. Scholars say that approach is a reflection of the fear that North Korea could collapse and needs to be propped up.

How Kim Death Risks China Crisis By Minxin Pei
(The Diplomat, Dec. 21, 2011) Given the huge stakes involved in the future of the Korean Peninsula, the volatility and unpredictability produced by Kim’s death has greatly increased the risks of great power conflict.

Kim Jong-un, Reformer? The Promise and Peril of North Korea’s Succession Crisis By Gilbert Rozman (The New Republic, Dec. 20, 2011) What’s important to realize is that a drawn-out succession process favors divisive forces throughout the region. Not only will it favor hardliners in North Korea—it will also give credence to the leaders in China who are distrustful of the United States, as well as the policymakers in South Korea and Japan who are pushing to adopt a tougher posture against Pyongyang.

China Relaxed about N. Korea Transition By Simon Rabinovitch
(Washington Post, Dec. 21, 2011) The fact that the Chinese government appears to be relatively relaxed now stems from its judgment that the father-to-son power transition need not be immediately destabilizing.

Will North Korea Become China’s Newest Province? By Victor Cha
(New York Times, Dec. 20, 2011) For Xi Jinping, expected to become China’s president over the next year, the first major foreign policy decision will be whether to shed North Korea or effectively adopt it as a province.

China Moves to Ensure Stability in North Korea By Edward Wong
(New York Times, Dec. 20, 2011) China, North Korea’s foremost ally, appears to be moving quickly to try to ensure stability in a crippled and isolated nation now facing a leadership transition fraught with dangers.

U.S. Warning to China Sends Ripples to the Koreas By Mark Landler and Martin Fackler (New York Times, Jan. 21, 2011) President Obama warned President Hu Jintaothat if China did not step up its pressure on North Korea, the United States would have to redeploy its forces in Asia to protect itself from a potential North Korean strike on American soil, a senior administration official said.

Obama Urges China to Check North Koreans By Mark Landler
(New York Times, Dec. 7, 2010) In a sign of mounting tension between the United States and China over North Korea, President Obama telephoned President Hu Jintao and warned that China was emboldening its unruly neighbor by not publicly challenging its behavior.

U.S. Steps Up Pressure on China to Rein in N. Korea By John Pomfret (Washington Post, Dec. 6, 2010) The United States has stepped up diplomatic pressure on China by accusing its leaders of "enabling" North Korea to start a uranium-enrichment program and to launch attacks on South Korea.

China’s Contradictions about North Korea By Zhu Feng
(Project Syndicate, Dec. 5, 2010) Emotional ties, combined with the usual bureaucratic love of the status quo, are the real cause of China’s failure to overhaul its North Korea policy. Whenever a crisis erupts, China becomes agitated. However, instead of seeking a new path, it retraces its old steps.

China Address Rising Korean Tensions By Ian Johnson and Martin Fackler (New York Times, Nov. 27, 2010) China engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity, three days after a North Korean artillery attack on South Korean civilians, but its most public message was directed at the United States, which is about to begin joint exercises with South Korea’s Navy.

Pyongyang Tests China’s Patience By Jeremy Page and Jason Dean
(Wall Street Journal, Nov. 26, 2010) North Korea's latest act of aggression against the South has prompted a new round of public debate in China on how to manage ties with a neighbor that is at once a close ally but, increasingly, a source of international embarrassment.

U.S. Aircraft Carrier’s Arrival off Korean Peninsula Also Sends a Message to China By John Pomfret (Washington Post, Nov. 24, 2010) The carrier - with 6,000 sailors and aviators and 75 warplanes - has another audience: China. Exasperated with a lack of help from Beijing on the Korean Peninsula, the Obama administration is trying to pressure China to constrain North Korea.

North Korean Blackmail By Andrei Lankov
(IHT, Nov. 25, 2010) The world is likely to say that the North Koreans are again acting “irrationally.” But this is not the case — they are a very rational regime, actually the world’s most Machiavellian.

China Faces a Nettlesome Neighbor in North Korea By Ian Johnson and Michael Wines (New York Times, Nov. 24, 2010) North Korea’s unending appetite for confrontation has left many wondering what its bottom line is, none more so than its supposed patron and big brother, China.

Obama Sanctions on North Korea Are Also Aimed at China
(Christian Science Monitor, Aug. 31, 2010) Obama’s new sanctions were likely aimed at Beijing as much as at the regime of Kim Jong-il. They may be part of a larger Obama strategy to stand up to China as it tries to dominate Asia with its expanding economic and naval might.

China’s Cheonan Problem By Bonnie S. Glaser and Grad Glosserman
(PacNet #31, Jun. 18, 2010) Historians may well look back at the sinking of the South Korean corvette Cheonan in March 2010 as a turning point in China’s relations with Asia and the wider world.

U.S.-South Korea War Games Raise China’s Hackles By Barbara Demick and John M. Glionna (LA Times, Jul. 28, 2010) China views the military exercises in the Sea of Japan as a threat to its territorial integrity. Beijing's indignation appears calibrated to push back at U.S. dominance in the region.

China Warily Eyes U.S.-Korea Drills By Elisabeth Bumiller and Edward Wong (New York Times, Jul. 21, 2010) The United States and South Korea announced that the first in a series of large-scale naval exercises off Japan and the Korean Peninsula would begin next week, despite objections from China.

Major Ship in U.S. Fleet Will Visit South Korea By Elisabeth Bumiller
(New York Times, Jul. 20, 2010) The Defense Department announced that an aircraft carrier, the George Washington, would arrive in the South Korean port of Busan as the United States and South Korea prepared for joint military exercises meant to be a show of strength against North Korea.

U.S. to Send Stern Message to North Korea By Phil Stewart
(Reuters, Jul. 18, 2010) Victor Cha, a former director of Asian Affairs at the White House National Security Council under the Bush administration, said he expected that re-engagement will take a back seat to the main message of deterrence during the visit to Seoul.

Watch Out for China-US Tension at Sea
(Editorial, Global Times, Jul. 12, 2010) Tension is mounting over the US-South Korean joint exercise. Beijing and Washington still have time, and leeway, to desist from moving toward a possible conflict on the Yellow Sea.

US Misses History Lessons on Korea By Sung-Yoon Lee
(Asia Times, Jul. 2, 2010) It's also important for Washington to hold quiet consultations with Beijing to envision and prepare jointly for a unified Korea under Seoul's initiative, a new polity that will necessarily remain free, peaceful, capitalist, pro-US and pro-China.

China Toughens Stance toward North Korea, but Doesn’t Back Sanctions By Blaine Harden (Washington Post, May 29, 2010) China toughened its position toward North Korea but fell short of the support for a U.N. Security Council rebuke that South Korean leaders had hoped for during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's high-profile visit.

All Eyes on China in Wake of Cheonan Sinking By Jesse Karotkin
(China Brief 10(11), Jamestown Foundation, May 27, 2010) China’s longstanding relationship with North Korea has come under greater international scrutiny since the March 26 sinking of the 1300-ton South Korean corvette Cheonan near the de facto maritime boundary between North and South Korea.

On North Korea, China Prefers Fence By Sharon LaFraniere
(New York Times, May 24, 2010) In the best of times, Chinese foreign affairs scholars here say, Beijing grits its teeth while playing best friend to Kim Jong-il, North Korea’s ailing and erratic 68-year-old leader.

North Korea Gets Blamed; China, South Korea Get the Mess By Jonathan Thatcher and Chris Buckley (Reuters, May 20, 2010) An international storm of condemnation has broken out over the sinking, but the tight lipped-response of China, North Korea's sole supporter, looks to some like a snub to a worried region and a lost opportunity to assert influence.

North Korean Leader Reaffirms Commitment to Weapons Talks By Choe Sang-hun (New York Times, May 8, 2010) Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader, told officials in Beijing that his government would try to restart talks on ending its nuclear weapons program.

China’s North Korea Conundrum: How to Balance a Three Legged Stool By Jonathan D. Pollack (YaleGlobal, Oct. 23, 2009) Pulled from many directions, China’s task resembles balancing a stool missing a leg: it must attune its support of North Korea with its relations with the US, all the while trying not to tarnish its international status as the facilitator of the Six Party Talks for denuclearizing North Korea.

U.S. Policy toward North Korea: The China Fallacy By Adam P. Liff
(PacNet #67, Pacific Forum, CSIS, Oct. 8, 2009) While steadfast support from China is essential, the idea that “the road to Pyongyang runs through Beijing” is fundamentally flawed.

China Aims to Steady North Korea By Choe Sang-hun
(New York Times, Oct. 7, 2009) The deal struck by the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao of China had far more to do with the two countries’ shared goal — stability in North Korea.

Peace-Mission 2009: A Military Scenario Beyond Central Asia By Stephen Blank (China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Aug. 20, 2009) A less discussed but increasingly plausible scenario in this Sino-Russian strategic partnership includes the possibility of joint military action in response to a regime crisis in North Korea.

Three Perspectives on Korean Developments
(PacNet #55, CSIS, Aug. 6, 2009) The following DPRK, ROK, and Chinese perspectives were offered at a recent meeting of the CSCAP Study Group on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

N. Korea Releases U.S. Journalists By Glenn Kessler
(Washington Post, Aug. 5, 2009) North Korea pardoned and released two detained American journalists after former president Bill Clinton met in Pyongyang with the country's ailing dictator.

China Keeps US Waiting on North Korea’s Future By Charles Hutzler (AP, Aug. 2, 2009) U.S. attempts to draw up a broad contingency plan in case North Korea's government collapses are being complicated by China's refusal to talk about potential chaos engulfing its dysfunctional neighbor.

China, Please Invade North Korea By Francesco Sisci
(Asia Times, Jul. 16, 2009) For North Korea's "surrender", China will have to exert pressure on Pyongyang, but as this would dangerously change the whole balance of power in the region, China would need broad and robust guarantees from America.

China’s Rogue Regimes Play Up By Brian McCartan
(Asia Times, Jul. 3, 2009) Arms shipments, cooperation on underground tunneling and a budding nuclear relationship between North Korea and Myanmar threatens to destabilize Southeast Asia's security balance and raise the ire of China, both countries' powerful neighbor and ally.

China Trade Helps Shield N. Korea By Blaine Harden
(Washington Post, Jun. 27, 2009) By funneling hard currency to the military, Chinese enterprises seem to be insulating the confrontational core of Kim's government from the international consequences of its behavior.

A Convenient North Korea Distraction By Peter Lee
(Asia Times, Jun. 23, 2009) U.S. President Barack Obama's Asian team is embarking on an effort to realign political forces in North Asia, draw Japan and South Korea closer to the United States, and undercut Chinese and Russian influence by exploiting North Korea’s posturing.

Up Close and Personal, Here’s What I Learned By Victor Cha
(Washington Post, Jun. 14, 2009) North Korea's aims, as I've come to understand them through my years studying the country and negotiating with its diplomats, are much bigger than that. We need to grasp them if we're going to break through the current crisis.

North Korea Resolution Lacks Teeth By Donald Kirk
(Asia Times, Jun. 13, 2009) The United Nations Security Council's draft resolution on North Korea's second underground nuclear test amounts to a slap on the wrist that's likely to have minimal impact after an initial burst of rhetoric and headlines.

Beijing Mulling Tougher Tactics Against Pyongyang By Willy Lam
(China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, Jun. 12, 2009) There is evidence galore that the Chinese leadership under President Hu Jintao is considering tougher tactics against Pyongyang due to new perceptions within China that the DPRK is intent upon becoming a “nuclear state.”

Value of N. Korea Sanctions Disputed By Blaine Harden
(Washington Post, Jun. 12, 2009) As the United Nations moves this week to sanction North Korea for its second nuclear test, there is strong evidence that a previous international squeeze did not work.

China: Pyongyang Just Wants Attention By Antoaneta Bezlova
(Asia Times, Jun. 11, 2009) Dismissive of warnings that the Korean Peninsula stands on the brink of war, China contends North Korea's recent provocative actions are yet another illustration of brinkmanship aimed at attracting the United States' attention.

Reining In Pyongyang By Henry A. Kissinger
(Washington Post, Jun. 8, 2009) A long-term solution to the Korean nuclear problem cannot be achieved by America alone. Nor is it sustainable without the key players of Northeast Asia.

Your Move, China By Bill Powell
(Time, Jun. 4, 2009) China's leaders have said that a nuclear North Korea is contrary to their "core interests." The more important question is: How much leverage does Beijing actually have over the North, and how much political will do the Chinese have to defend those core interests?

Pyongyang Shakes Up Pacifist Japan By Kosuke Takahashi
(Asia Times, May 30, 2009) An increasingly belligerent North Korea is reawaking hawkish sentiments in Japan, still one of the world's most powerful nations and equipped with ultra-modern weaponry.

Analysis: NKorea Nuke Test Won’t Break China Ties By Christopher Bodeen (AP, May 30, 2009) North Korea's nuclear test has soured relations with chief ally China, but Beijing isn't about to take stern action that could push the North to the brink of collapse and threaten a crisis on its border.

U.S. Presses China for Tough Response to North Korea By Mark Landler and David Sanger (New York Times, May 29, 2009) The United States is pressing China to consider taking a variety of severe sanctions against North Korea, including the inspection of suspect ships and planes.

China May Test North Korea Leverage After Kim’s Nuclear Blast By Michael Forsythe (Bloomberg, May 28, 2009) China may be reaching a point of understanding that Kim is going too far,” said Dennis Wilder, a former Asia director for the White House National Security Council.

China Debates Its Bond with North Korea By Barbara Demick
(LA Times, May 27, 2009) The longtime ties between the communist regimes are enduring some questioning among Chinese, who were rattled by the nuclear test near their border.

North Korea’s Second Nuclear Test: A Test Also for China and the United States By Alan D. Romberg (Henry L. Stimson Center, May 26, 2009) Now, focus will like come back on China both in terms of the words it adopts and the actions it takes. Many Chinese experts and others believe that harsh measures against North Korea are not only unproductive but actually counterproductive.