China And The U.S. Agree To Curtail North Korea's Nuclear And Missile Program

VICE News: North Korea Fires Yet Another Missile as China and US Say They Will Work Together to Combat Threat

North Korea launched another missile this morning, just hours after Chinese President Xi Jinping publicly reaffirmed his country's commitment to recent United Nations sanctions against its neighbor during a meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington.

The projectile was fired from a region near the North's east coast, a South Korean military official told Reuters by telephone. Another official at the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said it was a short-range surface to air missile of as-yet undetermined range.

It is at least the fifth time North Korea has fired missiles since UN sanctions were imposed on March 2 in the wake of the country's latest nuclear test on January 6.

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WNU editor: I am sceptical that China will enforce trade sanctions against North Korea, there is just too much business to be made .... A Hole in North Korean Sanctions Big Enough for Coal, Oil and Used Pianos (NYT). More here .... China backs North Korea punishment but won’t abandon unruly ally, analysts say (Washington Times)

More News On China And The U.S. Agreeing To Curtail North Korea's Nuclear And Missile Program

North Korea nuclear tests: US and China to co-operate -- BBC
Obama, Xi agree to fully implement North Korea sanctions -- AFP
North Korea Fires Another Missile as US and China Agree to Cooperate on Nuclear Threat -- Newsweek
US and China 'will cooperate to discourage North Korea nuclear tests' -- The Telegraph
U.S. and China Agree to Deter North Korea Nuclear Tests -- Time
N. Korea Key Focus of US Talks with Japan, South Korea, China -- VOA

China Tried To Convince North Korea To Give Up Nuclear Tests

Choe Ryong-hae (C), director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army (KPA) of North Korea, walks with Chinese Ambassador Liu Hongcai (2nd R) before departing Pyongyang airport for China, in this May 22, 2013 picture released by the North Korea's KCNA news agency in Pyongyang. REUTERS/KCNA

Exclusive: China Tried To Convince North Korea To Give Up Nuclear Tests - Source -- Reuters

(Reuters) - China told an envoy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that Pyongyang should stop conducting nuclear and missile tests, but the North showed little sign of heeding the request, said a source with knowledge of the talks held late last month.

Kim dispatched Choe Ryong-hae, vice chairman of the country's top military body, to explain North Korea's recent actions but he got a lukewarm reception from his Chinese hosts, said the source, who has close ties to Beijing and Pyongyang.

North Korea's 30-year-old leader took power in December 2011 and has carried out two long-range rocket launches and a nuclear weapons test since then. He also embarked on a months-long campaign of threats against South Korea and the United States.

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My Comment: The North Korean regime is focused on survivability .... China's suggestions will be acknowledged .... but they will not be acted upon. When China finally accepts this reality .... that is when I expect them to put the screws on North Korea .... and only when they (i.e. the Chinese) are being "squeezed" by their political allies and and economic partners.

China Bluntly Tells North Korea To Return To Nuclear Talks

North Korea Agrees To Return To Nuclear Talks Under Pressure From China -- The Guardian

Pyongyang's special envoy makes concession on nuclear disarmament to ease tensions between communist allies.

North Korea has offered to renew nuclear disarmament talks, according to the Chinese state media.

At a meeting on Thursday between vice-marshal Choe Ryong Hae and Liu Yunshan, a senior figure in the Chinese Communist party, North Korea heeded China's wishes after months of rising friction between the allies, according to reports. Pyongyang's special envoy praised China's work on behalf of peace and stability and its "great efforts to return [Korean] peninsular issues to the channel of dialogue and negotiation," China Central Television reported. It quoted Choe as saying North Korea "is willing to accept the suggestion of the Chinese side and launch dialogue with all relevant parties".

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More News On China Pressuring North Korea To Return To Nuclear Talks

North Korea Envoy Wraps Up Visit to China -- Voice of America
North Korea Puts Bright Face on China Visit, Despite Tensions -- New York Times
China Bluntly Tells North Korea to Enter Nuclear Talks -- New York Times
Report: China calls on North Korea to enter nuclear talks -- CNN
China’s Xi Urges N.Korea to Return to 6-Party Nuclear Talks -- Bloomberg Businessweek
North Korea 'offers to discuss nuclear disarmament' -- The Telegraph
North Korea sends signals it may be willing to rejoin disamament talks -- Washington Post
South Korean press skeptical of North Korea's dialogue offer -- Indian Express

China Is Unsure If North Korea Will Carry Out A Fourth Nuclear Test

U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, left, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, greets Lt. Gen. Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of staff of the Chinese army, upon his arrival in Beijing, April 20, 2013. Dempsey is on a weeklong trip meeting with counterparts and military leaders in South Korea, China and Japan. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen

China: North Korea Could Carry Out Fourth Nuclear Test -- Voice of America

BEIJING — A top military official in China says it is possible North Korea could carry out a fourth nuclear test.

Speaking at a news conference following meetings with his U.S. counterpart, General Fang Fenghui, the chief of the general staff of China’s army spoke of the need to re-start long-stalled talks with North Korea.

General Fang said China is firmly opposed to North Korea’s carrying out of nuclear tests, but added there is a possibility it could go forward with a fourth test.

He says, "As far as the Chinese side is concerned, we are willing to work actively with all sides to persuade North Korea to stop nuclear tests and to stop producing nuclear weapons. A nuclear-free peninsula is in the interest of all parties.”

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Update: China says on guard for possible fourth North Korean nuclear test, calls for talks -- FOX News/AP

My Comment: The Chinese do not have a clue on what is North Korea`s nuclear intentions. They are in as much in the dark as everyone else.

Pentagon And US State Department Contradict Each Other On China Assisting North Korea's Missile Program

China Assisting North Korean Missile Program: U.S. Defense Secretary -- Reuters

(Reuters) - China has provided some assistance to North Korea's missile program, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Thursday, a week after the hermit state's failed missile launch triggered broad international condemnation.

"I'm sure there's been some help coming from China. I don't know, you know, the exact extent of that," Panetta told members of the House Armed Services Committee when asked whether China had been supporting North Korea's missile program through "trade and technology exchanges."

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My Comment: While US Secretary of Defense Panetta was making the above remarks, US state Department spokesman Mark Toner was telling reporters the following .... US takes China 'at word' on N. Korea sanctions.

Who to believe? Hmmmm .... my money is on Panetta.

More News On China Assisting North Korea In It's Missile Program

UN probes claim China broke N. Korea sanctions: report -- AFP
Truck in North Korean parade may have violated sanctions -- L.A. Times
Experts: NKorea missile carrier likely from China -- AP
North Korea missile carrier from China -- News24
North Korean Missile Carrier Could Indicate Sanctions Have Been Violated -- Voice of America
Chinese mark on N. Korean military: Sanctions appear loosely enforced -- Washington Times
China Provided Missile Know-How To North Korea, Claims UN Probe -- IBTimes
U.S. Divided On N. Korea's Next Move, China Possibly Helping N. Korea Develop ICBM -- Arirang (Korea)

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il Is In China

Improving health? A combination photo shows North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il posing with former U.S. President Bill Clinton (not pictured) on Aug. 4, 2009 (left) and again with a Russian delegation on May 17, 2011 in these images released by the North Korean official news agency KCNA. /Reuters-Newsis

Mystery Of 'Trip To China' By Country's Aged Leader -- The Independent

North Korea's ruler Kim Jong-il made a surprise visit to China yesterday, South Korean media reported, amid confusing reports about the purpose of the trip and the presence of his son.

Media in Seoul quoted South Korean presidential and government sources as saying the 69-year-old leader travelled by train yesterday morning. Earlier, the media outlets reported that it was youngest son and heir apparent Kim Jong-un who arrived in Tumen, in the north-eastern Chinese province of Jilin. A presidential source would not confirm the later reports.

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More News On North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il`s Visit To China

Kim Jong Il believed to be in China -- UPI
Kim Jong Il Reported in China -- Global Security Newswire
South Korean Media Revise Reports on North Korean Trip to China -- New York Times
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reportedly in China -- Washington Post
Kim Jong-un Reportedly Travels to China -- Chosun Ilbo
North Korea leader Kim Jong-il visits China, not his son- report -- Reuters

My comment: There are probably 2 reasons why Kim Jong-il is in China .... famine and nuclear weapons proliferation. Take you choice.

With Tensions High On The Korean Peninsula, What Is China Doing?

China Works To Ease North-South Korea Tension -- BBC

China's Foreign Ministry has begun working to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula, holding a series of talks with Washington, Seoul and Pyongyang.

Officials said their priority was to avoid a recurrence of Tuesday's violence, which saw North Korea fire artillery shells at a southern island.

The South responded with its own fire, and announced joint military exercises with US forces would begin on Sunday.

Pyongyang said the drills were pushing the region to "the brink of war".

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More News On What Is China Doing To Resolve The Crisis On The Korean Peninsula

China Protests U.S.-South Korea Exercises -- Wall Street Journal
China issues warning ahead of U.S.-South Korea drills -- Yahoo News/Reuters
China urges diplomacy to U.S., both Koreas -- Reuters
China opposes any military acts in exclusive economic zone without permission -- Xinhuanet
Analysis: US carrier visit a dilemma for China-- Washington Post/AP
U.S. aircraft carrier's arrival off Korean peninsula also sends a message to China -- Washington Post
Adm. Mike Mullen: China's Leadership Is 'Absolutely Critical' In North Korea -- ABC News
China is loath to condemn North Korea -- L.A. Times
China Urges Restraint on Korean Peninsula -- Voice of America
China urges restraint over Koreas -- Al Jazeera
China Premier Urges Restraint Over Korean Tensions -- FOX News/AP
North Korean attack on South Korea pushes China's patience -- Sydney Morning Herald
Chinese Foreign Minister Cancels Visit to Seoul -- Chosun Ilbo
China's support of North Korea grounded in centuries of conflict -- CNN
China Help with North Korea? Fuggedaboutit!: Dear pundits: Stop begging Beijing to rein in Kim Jong Il. It ain’t gonna happen. -- Aidan Foster-Carter, Foreign Policy

Economic Interests Shape Beijing's Pyongyang Policy

Portions of the China-North Korea border remain porous. A Chinese guard watched as two men crossed into North Korea at Onsong. Du Bin for The New York Times

From Wall Street Journal:

China on Tuesday repeated a call for calm after North Korea's latest test of a multistage rocket, attempting to defuse anger in the U.S. and elsewhere at a time when its economic interest in the neighboring state is soaring.

Since North Korea's test of a rocket similar to a long-range missile Sunday, Chinese diplomats have refused to criticize Pyongyang and forestalled penalties against it in the U.N. Security Council, where China is a permanent member with veto power.

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My Comment: China's involvement with North Korea are strictly for the long term. They know that the present leadership will pass on .... and that the North Korean Government will ultimately look at neighboring countries for closer and better relations. For the Chinese, a unified Korea with its economy and people united is not in China's best long term interests. Their present positioning with North Korea is to insure that this will not happen .... that as long as North Korea is dependent on China for survival .... they will never be a threat to the Chinese Government.