The meeting is noteworthy for its absence of China, which has always been a key player in negotiations involving North Korea. China is the leader of the six-party talks, purposed with reining in North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and brokering peace in the region, and has strong ties to Pyongyang.
After the attacks U.S. officials trying to reach their counterparts in China to discuss an appropriate response, found Beijing first unresponsive, and then unwilling to condemn North Korea’s actions.
“China’s absence from these meetings is significant. In failing to condemn Pyongyang for its actions and in urging restraint on both sides—doing just as it did after the Cheonan’s sinking—Beijing has once again shown itself to be uninterested in reining in its North Korean ally and undependable as responsible power in Northeast Asia,” said Michael Mazza, a senior research associate with American Enterprise Institute, and an expert in Asia-Pacific defense policy.
“Today’s bilateral and trilateral meetings are at once the result of a recognition on the part of the allies that they must find a way to solve the North Korean problem on their own, and also a signal to China that if it doesn’t want to play nice, it won’t be invited to play at all,” said Michael Mazza.
When China finally did respond, its suggestion of brokering an emergency gathering of the six-party leaders was rejected by the United States, Japan, and South Korea, who want to see a solid change of behavior on the part of North Korea before resuming talks.
President Barack Obama and China’s Hu Jintao spoke by telephone Sunday night. According to a statement released by the White House, the president “urged China to work with us and others to send a clear message to North Korea that its provocations are unacceptable.”
There is no word yet on whether China is willing to do so.
According to Mazza, China believes it should be the dominant player in Asia. “If difficult security challenges are solved without its input or participation, Beijing just might alter its behavior to ensure it has a say in the resolution of future problems,” he said.
When questioned at a joint ministerial press conference together with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Seiji Maehara, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea Kim Sung-hwan, Secretary Clinton said they look forward to China playing a vital role in regional policy.
“They have a unique relationship with North Korea, and we would hope that China would work with us to send a clear unmistakable message to North Korea that they have to demonstrate a seriousness of purpose in ending their provocative actions,” said Clinton.
“Six-party talks cannot substitute for action by North Korea to comply with its obligations,” she emphasized.
In a joint statement the three ministers said they were joined in solidarity against North Korea’s “provocative and belligerent behavior” that “threatens all three countries.”
They also condemned North Korea’s construction of a uranium enrichment facility, saying it violated United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to requiring North Korea to abide by the framework agreed to in 2005 during the six-party talks, and the 1953 Armistice Agreement that called for peace and stability in the region.
The ministers said they are willing to talk with North Korea again, but only if it makes the right choices.
Based on statements released by the Department of State, ministers planned to have an in-depth discussion about how to get more cooperation from China and Russia.
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