Jonathan Kaiman & Jessica Meyers, L.A. Times: North Korea’s sixth nuclear test was more than a slap in the face to President Trump. It also sent a signal to China
North Korea’s claim that it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb dramatically raised the stakes Sunday in its escalating confrontation with neighbors across northeast Asia, and with a U.S. administration that is increasingly running out of good options.
Japan and South Korea’s leaders condemned the latest sign that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, unfazed by strict U.N. sanctions and a chorus of international condemnation, has accelerated the country’s nuclear and missile development with astonishing success.
President Trump denounced it as “very hostile and dangerous to the United States.”
But Chinese officials met an even more sobering reality — that Beijing, Pyongyang’s top ally and trading partner, has also become a target of its wrath.
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WNU Editor: I do not see North Korea's nuclear test as a slap at President Trump, if anything it validates what he has been saying about North Korea since the beginning. The ones who have been "slapped" are South Korean President Moon Jae-in who has been pushing for a dialogue with North Korea since his election earlier this year, and Chinese President Xi who assured President Trump when they met in April that China's approach towards North Korea would produce results. For the Chinese .... to have this happen while hosting the BRICs summit in Xiamen .... must not only be a shock for them, but also a realization that North Korea has become a very dangerous foe that has zero interest in respecting Chinese interests.As for Kim Jong-Un .... he must be feeling very safe right now. He has now demonstrated to the world that he has the means and will to deter his neighbors from overthrowing him ..... and I include China on that list.
8 comments:
Does China really care if North Korea opens up on Seoul?
Maybe some. Maybe a lot.
But if North Korea keeps talking crazy and might swing a missile China's way, the Chinese will worry more about Chinese cites than Seoul.
If an putative 'ally' North Korea torches a Chinese city, the PRC loses the Mandate of Heaven.
The PRC loses face, if North Korea unequivocally threatens them.
If North Korea seriously threatens China, there is not a whole lot the North Korean can do. Their artillery is pointing the wrong way. If/When China gets air superiority, all the missiles in the world mean squat. All the North Koreans could do is make a mess of Seoul, maybe.
I think the U.S. should sanction every Chinese bank they can get their hands on. We squeeze China and China squeezes Kim. Does Kim want to be a martyr? Seems to me that Hitler let everyone become a martyr from Stalingrad to Berlin, before he took his own life. I don't think that posturing fat boy wants to die anymore than Hitler did.
If China invades North Korea, Trump will not want to go north. That is no one will seriously threaten the Chinese, if they clean up the DPRK. 3 days 2 weeks or 6 months later the NYT or someone will Monday morning quarter back, but no one will seriously do anything.
WNU,
I agree with you, a nuclear deterrent is for every one, no matter its color.
China must feel the pain for helping and being used by a country which has no more respect for it.
I don't want to be in the shoes of Xi. He is not a bad guy, he is defending its own country as every leader is doing (even the bad side which every country is doing). NK is becoming a nightmare for China. After all, China could be later in the range of the nuclear capability of NK....with a very short alarm time.
Commentator James was the first to point this China - North Korea split long before most people did.
It is a bit too hard to tell what's going on in that guy's mind - and honestly - we cannot know for sure, nor should we care. His actions are what matters.. and if you put two and two together (him threatening the annihilation of the US, including in propaganda videos, in which the entire US is engulfed in nuclear flames), and his push for nuclear weapons, we should not be too nice with this guy. I really think, the best message to the world, and best solution is a decapitation strike. Enough with these dictators all around the world torturing people and living like kings, while trying to get nukes / a strong military to stay in power. Lets take him out for good and free his people.
I don't think there's a split between China and north Korea. Nothing points to it. Serious trading is still going on. The money flows like never before. This is just show for us. Who do you guys think helped the north Koreans advance so fast? Common. .
That split is just for show.
Xi's in on it.
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