According to South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, China has expressed the intent to participate in the United Nations Security Council’s sanctions against North Korea. It is the first time that China publicly cooperated on an action against North Korea with South Korea and the U.N. The Chinese Defense Ministry stated that North Korea’s nuclear test violated a Security Council resolution, and said that China will participate in the U.N. resolution condemning North Korea’s nuclear testing.
Tensions between South and North Korea have risen because of North Korea’s nuclear testing. Due to the nuclear testing, South Korea was able to detect an earthquake near the test site on January 6. After the test, South Korea’s president, Park Geun-Hye, urged a strong global response. She added that the Chinese government has a key role in responding to North Korea’s nuclear testing, which violated a U.N. security resolution.
The United States and Japan pressured China to join them in drawing up a Security Council resolution regarding North Korea’s fourth nuclear test. American Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “The United States and South Korea are determined to take a significant movement; therefore, both nations are looking forward to China to join in that effort.” Among the three countries, China, a veto-holding member of the Security Council, is an ally of North Korea. During these three countries’ discussions to draw up harder sanctions against North Korea, the U.S. and South Korea hope China will demonstrate leadership at the Security Council regarding North Korea’s actions.
China should take strong action against North Korea for violating international law. North Korea has friendly relations with China; however, North Korea did not listen to China’s advice on nuclear testing. Nuclear testing not only affected South Korea, but it also affected people on the border between North Korea and China. For the sake of its citizens, China should take the significant step of punishing North Korea publicly. Almost all nations are against North Korea’s aggressive step, and strong action from China will help North Korea to acknowledge its mistake. If China takes decisive action now, North Korea will likely think twice about testing again.
