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Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in a press conference on Saturday, "We have noted that the North Korean side has announced it will launch a trial communications satellite. We express our concern about the developments... We hope that all parties will do more things that are helpful." Yang added that Beijing is aware of various countries' responses to North Korea's announcement and that it is in their best interest to maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula.
On arrival in South Korea on Saturday, U.S. envoy on North Korea Stephen Bosworth said, "We've indicated our position to them on the question of the missile launch, or satellite launch, or whatever they call it. We think it's very ill-advised."
Ahead of visits to China, Japan and South Korea starting last Tuesday, Bosworth explained his plans to U.S. President Barack Obama. Bosworth's trilateral negotiations will serve as the foundations which the Obama administration will use to decide its North Korea policies. And while being cautious about commenting on a possible visit to North Korea and the resumption of the six-country nuclear talks, Bosworth drew a clear line when it came to the missile launch. China had not made a public statement since Feb. 24, when North Korea gave notice of the launch, insisting that it was part of its satellite program. Yet following a meeting with Bosworth last Wednesday, Beijing asked North Korea to halt it, apparently as a result of fine-tuning with Washington.
They probably discussed sanctions against North Korea should it ignore warnings by neighbors countries and push ahead with its long-range missile launch. The U.S. has pointed out clearly that this would be a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718, which bans all North Korean missile-related programs. The UN resolution blocks the export of military goods and luxury items to North Korea. If it ignores Beijing's warning not to damage stability on the Korean Peninsula, then it will be difficult for China to brush off the incident as if nothing had happened.
North Korea is stubbornly demanding the establishment of diplomatic relations with the U.S., while China is virtually the only country on earth that supports the North. Will North Korea ignore the voices of these two countries?
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