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The North Korean Foreign Ministry on Thursday expressed support for the Chinese government¡¯s suppression of Tibetan protests. It "supports the Chinese government in its efforts to ensure social stability and the rule of law in Tibet and defend the fundamental interests of the people," said a spokesman for the North's Foreign Ministry in an interview with the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"The latest incident was caused deliberately by Tibetan separatists at the instigation of unsavory elements,¡± he was quoted as saying. ¡°This is arousing anger and denunciation from the entire Chinese people. Tibet is part of the inalienable territory of China."
The KCNA on March 8 had also quoted the North Korean Foreign Ministry as supporting the Chinese position on Taiwan, ¡°resolutely¡± opposing any Taiwanese attempt to join the UN.
Pundits speculate that Pyongyang is being fulsome in its support for China because it fears isolation now the new government in South Korea is strengthening its alliance with the U.S.
Pyongyang-Beijing ties have chilled lately after North Korea notified China only 20 minutes before it conducted a nuclear test in October 2006 and that China approved UN sanctions against the North. Until last year, North Korea needed little from China since most of its basic needs were covered by economic aid of various kinds from South Korea. But since the new South Korean government vowed boost the Seoul-Washington alliance and review inter-Korean projects, observers say, North Korea feels an increasing need to lean on China.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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