China invests in North Korea
China has long been recognized as the key player in the effort to isolate and pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear program. But it appears that Beijing is more interested in "investing" in the Hermit Kingdom than denuclearizing it:
China has launched a major push to boost economic engagement with North Korea and persuade Pyongyang to adopt reforms, experts say.Analysts suggest Beijing believes development will improve regional stability by encouraging its impoverished neighbour to act more cautiously.
China also hopes to benefit from port access, mineral rights and increased trade.
But some believe the economic drive undercuts the impact of sanctions imposed in the hope of forcing North Korea to denuclearise.
From China's perspective, stability at the border and a buffer between it and U.S.-aligned South Korea matter more than whether the country has a few crude nuclear weapons or periodically engages in bouts of international blackmail. Until Washington can devise a way to change that calculus, we're going to be stuck with the Kim clan for a while longer.
(AP Photo)
