North Korea Crisis

[News] [Papers]

China Pushes N. Korea on Talks
(CNN.com, Oct. 30, 2003) Though he called the North Korea nuclear issue "complicated", China's No. 2 leader Wu Bangguo has told Pyongyang that dialogue was the only way to end the standoff.

China Denies Moving Troops Near N. Korea
(AP, Sep. 18, 2003) China denied moving 150,000 soldiers to its border with North Korea because of nuclear tensions, insisting the frontier was calm.

China Deploys Troops on N. Korea Border
(WP, Sep. 16, 2003) China has moved troops into new positions along its 870-mile frontier with North Korea and ordered them to take over border patrol duties from military police units.

Time to Act, China Tells N Korea
(CNN.com, Aug. 25, 2003) Chinese President Hu Jintao has told North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to halt his country's "constant war-preparation" and to concentrate on building up its feeble economy.

China Wary of Weapons Searches
(Washington Post, Aug. 23, 2003) North Korea will not be allowed to use China as a back door to evade international sanctions designed to prevent it from exporting weapons of mass destruction, a senior Chinese arms control official said.

Bush Speaks to China's Hu on North Korean Nuclear Crisis
(AFP, July 30, 2003) George W. Bush spoke by telephone to Hu Jintao, and said "serious progress" was being made in framing an Asian regional solution to the North Korea nuclear crisis.

Beijing's New Urgency over N Korea
(CNN.com, July 30, 2003) Beijing has vowed to keep up the pressure on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. However, it wants the U.S. to make a firmer -- and more formal -- declaration of non-aggression against North Korea.

Senior US Official Bolton in China for North Korea Talks
(AFP, July 28, 2003) Senior US diplomat John Bolton opened meetings with Chinese officials here as efforts to kickstart a new round of talks on North Korea's nuclear program accelerated.

China Pushes for N. Korea-U.S. Talks
(AP, July 18, 2003) China has dispatched a top diplomat to Washington to push for talks between the United States and North Korea over the North's suspected nuclear weapons program.

Powell, China Talk as Clock Ticks for N. Korea
(Reuters, July 17, 2003) Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the North Korean nuclear crisis with his Chinese counterpart. "The two sides agreed to keep contact and exert efforts to further the Sino-U.S. constructive and cooperative relationship," China's official Xinhua news agency said.

China Sends Letter to North Korea's Kim, Urges Talks
(AFP, July 15, 2002) China showed growing signs of impatience with North Korea, urging a swift restart of nuclear talks following President Hu Jintao taking the unusual step of sending a personal letter to Kim Jong-Il.

China Has Key to Solve Korea Row
(Reuters, June 20, 2003) The Beijing format for talks on the North Korean nuclear issue is the only way to a peaceful solution, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said.

Plan to Block North Korean Nuclear Shipments Gains Support
(NYT, June 18, 2003) Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said that the United States had lined up broad support to press North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

Japan, ROK Show Unity over North Korea
(Yomiuri Shimbun, June 8, 2003) Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun agreed to strengthen the unity of the two countries in pressuring North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

U.S. Troops Will Leave Korean DMZ
(WP, June 6, 2003) U.S. troops will withdraw from the tense Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea in a phased redeployment, bringing an end to 50 years of guard duty that began at the end of the Korean War.

US Urges Asia to Press N Korea
(BBC, June 1, 2003) The United States has urged Asian countries to jointly put pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear plans, but said the crisis can be resolved peacefully.

China Puts North Korea Talks in Brighter Light
(WP, Apr. 29, 2003) A Chinese Foreign Ministry official conducted an unusual briefing for 20 Western diplomats that left a far more positive picture of the meeting.

North Korea's Threats Prod China Toward U.S.
(WP, Apr. 26, 2003) North Korea's declaration this week that it possesses a nuclear arsenal and might sell some of it to the highest bidder has put new pressure on China to rein in its longtime ally.

North Koreans and U.S. Plan Talks in Beijing Next Week
(NYT, Apr. 16, 2003) Officials in several countries said China has promised the United States that it will act as a full participant in the talks rather than just convening them. The Chinese had hoped to conduct the initial meetings in secret.

China Urges N. Korea Dialogue
(WP, Apr. 4, 2003) The Chinese government has begun playing a more active role in pushing the United States and North Korea to settle their differences over the North Korean nuclear development program.

Bush Urges Chinese President to Press North Korea on Arms
(New York Times, Feb. 8, 2003) President Bush urged President Jiang Zemin of China to help resolve the crisis with North Korea, telling him in a phone conversation that Beijing had a responsibility to prevent the North from developing nuclear weapons.

China's Reluctance On N. Korea Irks U.S.
(Washington Post, February 4, 2003) China's failure to assertively pursue a solution to the crisis over North Korea is irritating the United States and South Korea, threatening to undermine progress in U.S.-China relations.

China Ships North Korea Ingredient for Nuclear Arms
(Washington Times, Dec. 17, 2002) North Korea has purchased a large shipment of chemicals from China that can be used to make nuclear-weapons fuel, U.S. intelligence officials say.

Russia, China Vow to Strengthen Ties
(AP, Dec. 3, 2002) The leaders of Russia and China vowed to strengthen their ``strategic partnership'' and declared common positions on key foreign policy fronts.

Beijing Nervous After Japan-N. Korea Talks
(CNN.com, Sep. 18, 2002) Beijing is afraid its influence over North Korea may decline following Pyongyang's marathon diplomatic forays that culminated in Tuesday's meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean strongman Kim Jong Il.

China Seeks Payback for N. Korea Efforts By Willy Lam
(CNN.com, Sep. 16, 2003) Taiwan in exchange for North Korea -- this formula pretty much sums up Beijing's expectations about relations with the United States in the foreseeable future.

North Korea Becomes China's Bete Noire By Marc Erikson
(Asia Times, Sep. 12, 2003) Today, few if any of them would disagree that this onetime ally has become China's No 1 headache and puts several of its essential strategic interests at risk.

N. Korean Gambit May Force China's Hand By Jonathan Eyal
(Straits Times, Sep. 1, 2003) Beijing must push Pyongyang to return to the nuclear talks or stay silent and watch the diplomatic process disintegrate.

China at Korea Talks: Taking Diplomacy Upstage By Joseph Kahn
(New York Times, Aug. 30, 2003) Even though the six nations that gathered for talks here this week have yet to agree on how to stop North Korea's nuclear program, at least one breakthrough was evident: the emergence of China as a more assertive diplomatic power.

North Korea: What Are the Options? By Marianne Bray
(CNN.com, Aug. 29, 2003) As five of the world's most influential nations take a seat at the table with North Korea, they have but a handful of ways to deal with the nuclear crisis.

As Talks Begin, China Views N. Korea as Risk By John Pomfret
(Washington Post, August 27, 2003) Beijing increasingly views Pyongyang and its apparent desire to develop a nuclear weapon as a risk, and officials have all but pleaded with the government of Kim Jong Il to begin reforming the country's moribund economy.

Diplomacy's Best Chance By Ralph A. Cossa
(Straits Times, Aug. 25, 2003) Pyongyang's willingness to participate in multilateral talks 'to resolve the nuclear issue' is good news indeed. But Pyongyang's past behaviour certainly gives reason to pause and to temper any optimism.

China Aims to Keep U.S., North Korea Talking By Brian Rhoads
(Reuters, Aug. 25, 2003) China, sandwiched between a North Korea threatening to go nuclear and a United States that has proved willing and able to topple regimes, will press for one major outcome from six-way talks this week -- keep them talking.

China & N. Korea: Bitter Friends By Melinda Liu
(Newsweek, Aug. 31, 2003) North Korea has been thumbing its nose at China for years, but what was once an irritation for Beijing is becoming a matter of serious concern.

The Koreas: China Breaks With Its Wartime Past By Charles Hutzler and Gordon Fairclough (Far Eastern Economic Review, Aug. 7, 2003) Pyongyang's moves to build an arsenal of nuclear weapons could be the last straw for Beijing, which has extensive economic ties with South Korea and wants stability.

China, North Korea No Longer Close as 'Lips and Teeth' By Robert Marquand (Christian Science Monitor, July 25, 2003) To be sure, the relations between China and North Korea, described for years by propaganda as being "closer than lips and teeth," are complex and sensitive.

Obtuse Triangle: China, Korea and the US By Stephen Blank
(Asia Times, July 18, 2003) Even as new fears of a war between North Korea and America over the former's nuclearization grew last week, counteracting forces, largely inspired by China, began to bring both sides back from the brink.

As U.S. and North Korea Glower, China Pushes for Talks By Joseph Kahn (New York Times, July 16, 2003) Beijing has grown uneasy about the lack of progress toward a peaceful settlement of the dispute and is viewed by some Western diplomats as increasingly willing to use its leverage to make North Korea negotiate.

China Cranks Up Diplomacy over Korean Nuclear Row By John Ruwitch (Reuters, July 6, 2003) Facing a tough U.S. stance on North Korea's nuclear ambitions, growing pressure for U.N. action and increasingly threatening rhetoric from Pyongyang, a nervous China has kicked into diplomatic high gear.

Chinese Back North Korea over US in Nuclear Standoff
(Straits Times, June 18, 2003) 90% of the Chinese oppose Washington's pressure tactics and hit out at double standards, independent poll shows.

China: Fed Up With North Korea? By David M. Lampton
(Washington Post, June 4, 2003) President Bush's just-concluded meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Evian, France, came at a critical juncture in the U.S. effort to build a multilateral coalition to deal with North Korea's drive for nuclear weapons.

China Diplomacy Hinging on 'Korea Option' By Willy Lam
(CNN.com, June 3, 2003) President Hu Jintao needs new ways of thinking on diplomacy to boost ties with the U.S. and Japan -- and to establish China as a respectable member of the international community.

Pyongyang's Dangerous Game By Ralph Cossa
(Japan Times, May 15, 2003) What exactly did North Korea claim or admit to and in what context? And, how has this affected the Bush administration's approach toward dealing with Pyongyang? The answer is: I'm not sure.

U.S. Blueprint for N. Korea War By Jamie McIntyre
(CNN.com, May 13, 2003) The U.S. has "war-gamed" the scenario for years -- a blueprint for the defense of South Korea that Pentagon insiders know as "OP-PLAN 50-27."

The Chinese Puzzle By George Wehrfritz and Richard Wolffe
(Newsweek, May 5, 2003) North Korea may now be alone as never before. By springing its nuclear program during talks China hosted, it has sucker-punched its last major ally in the world.

Failure of Talks with US Will Test China's Patience By James Kynge
(Financial Times, Apr. 26, 2003) China is supposed to be North Korea's closest ally. But the failure of US-North Korean talks brokered by Beijing this week has severely tried the patience of the Chinese government.

Wolfowitz Blocked China Hosted Summit on North Korea in 1980s: Documents
(Agence France Presse, Apr. 25, 2003) Deputy US Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz blocked a Chinese initiative in the 198Os to hold inter-Korean talks with US officials in attendance.

Which Side Blinked, and Why? By Ralph Cossa
(Japan Times, Apr. 23, 2003) If Pyongyang does not quickly recant or agree to terminate this self-confessed action, the ball will then fall not in Washington's or Beijing's court, but in Seoul's.

False Steps in Beijing By Scott Snyder
(International Herald Tribune, Apr. 23, 2003) Even if the talks fail, China's diplomatic status in the region will have been elevated. But if such a role comes at the expense of Washington's relationships with Seoul and Tokyo, Pyongyang will have won a victory before negotiations have even begun.

Alliances Shifting in Northeast Asia By Doug Struck
(Washington Post, Mar. 23, 2003) While the United States has been preoccupied with Iraq, a shuffling of alliances is taking place in Northeast Asia, accelerated by the U.S. failure to defuse the North Korean nuclear crisis.

China Looks Ahead to Korea Crisis By Willy Lam
(CNN.com, Mar. 18, 2003) The Chinese leadership, which expects Washington to take on Pyongyang by the summer, is adopting multi-pronged measures to defuse the North Korea crisis.

Will China Confront North Korea? By Robert Scalapino
(Taipei Times, Mar. 18, 2003) Beijing's seeming silence over the nuclear ambitions of North Korea has left US, Japanese and South Korean officials alike wondering when it will "stand up" to assert its influence over its neighbor and erstwhile ally.

Pyongyang Shoots Down Diplomatic Hopes By Francesco Sisci
(Asia Times, Feb. 26, 2003) Chinese diplomacy is the first victim of a North Korean missile that landed in the Sea of Japan 35 miles off the South Korean coast just hours before the inauguration of South Korean President.

China Has A Surprise for Kim Jong Il By Gordon G. Chang
(International Herald Tribune, Feb. 12, 2003) Conventional wisdom says that China cannot do much to influence North Korea. By Beijing is in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime realignment of its foreign policy, and the moment of truth is fast approaching for Pyongyang.

To China, North Korea Looks Radioactive By Joseph Kahn
(New York Times, Feb. 2, 2003) It did not seem impossible, just a few weeks ago, that China and the United States would work hand in hand to end the North Korean standoff.

Beijing Worries About U.S. Designs on the Korean Peninsula By Tom Plate
(Asia Pacific Media Network, Jan. 27, 2003) It’s frightening how many Chinese in Beijing’s government elite suspect the Bush administration of harboring a secret plan to keep the Korean peninsula divided.

N. Korea Using China to Obtain Missile Supplies By Bill Gertz
(Washington Times, Jan. 22, 2003) North Korean companies in China are funneling technology and goods for Pyongyang's missile program, highlighting Beijing's mixed approach to the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

China's Influence Is Limited By Jasper Becker
(International Herald Tribune, Jan. 10, 2003) The United States and South Korea want China to mediate in the crisis over North Korea's nuclear weapons program. But Being's influence in Pyongyang, despite historical ties, is much exaggerated.

N. Korea: China's Child By William Safire
(New York Times, Dec. 26, 2002) The North Korean blackmail presents Hu Jintao, new leader of 1.3 billion Chinese, with his first global test. So far, Hu is failing.

Beijing's North Korea Conundrum By Willy Wo-Lap Lam
(CNN.com, Dec. 24, 2002) Beijing could use its leverage over a recalcitrant North Korea to extract concessions from the United States in areas ranging from Taiwan to Washington's human rights policy.

Family Feud: China vs. North Korea By Matthew Forney
(TIME, Dec. 23, 2002) China's patience for North Korea's diplomatic brinkmanship has worn thin. To China, the greatest fear is of a destabilized North Korea, perhaps leading to what the Bush Administration calls "regime change."