Is China Growing Frustrated With North Korea

Washington Post: China watches in frustration as North Korea crisis enters dangerous spiral

BEIJING — The view from China could hardly be much worse: the leaders of North Korea and the United States threatening to rain down total destruction on each other, while U.S. bombers and fighters stage a show of military might close to China’s shores.

In public, China’s foreign ministry has calmly advocated for restraint and warned Pyongyang and Washington not add to fuel to the fire. But behind closed doors, experts said Sunday, Beijing is as frustrated with North Korea, and with the situation, as it has ever been.

As North Korea’s dominant trading partner, China is widely seen as the key to solving the crisis, yet experts say its influence over Pyongyang has never been weaker.

Unwilling to completely pull the plug, it has nevertheless agreed to a stiff package of sanctions at the United Nations and implemented them with unprecedented determination, experts say.

So far, all that has achieved is to alienate its neighbor and erstwhile friend.

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WNU Editor: I have been saying the same thing about the Chinese and how they view North Korea for the past few months. The difference is that the Washington Post does a better job in explaining why. Mind you .... sometimes I do wonder if the Chinese are playing a double game .... North Korea-China trade volume increases on-year despite strong global sanctions against regime (Arirang).