US and regional powers discuss how to deal with North Korea

Days after North Korea detonated an underground nuclear device and launched a series of short-range missiles, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates met with his counterparts from Japan, South Korea and China to discuss how to collectively deal with the increasingly belligerent Stalinist state. Washington has declared it will hold North Korea “fully accountable” if it pursues nuclear proliferation, and has urged a continuation of six-party talks, but has indicated it will respond quickly to any security threat to allies.  Both Japan and South Korea have criticized North Korea; each country has a Cold War-era defense treaty with the US. Even China, North Korea’s old ally has condemned the recent nuclear tests. But China has taken a more nuanced stance because its ultimate goal is ensuring the regime doesn’t collapse. Beijing fears millions of refugees fleeing the border, amongst other concerns. China supplies 90 percent of the country’s energy and 40 percent of its food. That Russia and China are beginning to engage in current discussions reveals that they are  “getting serious with peace in Korea Peninsula, and their patience is running thin”, according to an article in Chinese state-run People’s Daily. Unfortunate for all involved in negotiations, the “Cold War still persists” in the region in the eyes of the North Koreans, and the regime maintains “self-confidence and grit that it is a politically and militarily strong country”, according to North Korean state news agency KCNA.

DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman clarifies its stand on UNSC’s increasing threat , KCNA

China committal to Northeast Asia peace, People’s Daily Online

Gates signals tougher approach to NKorea, Financial Times

North Korea’s nuclear test puts China in a tough sport, The Guardian

Why China won’t do more with North Korea, Pomfret’s China - Post Global