10 August 2016•Update: 10 August 2016
By Alex Jensen
SEOUL
North Korea is reported to have escaped United Nations Security Council condemnation over its recent ballistic missile tests because of China’s insistence on linking the issue to American missile defense in South Korea.
Such condemnation was expected after the Security Council convened an emergency meeting in the wake of the North firing a pair of missiles last week, one of which launched successfully and reached waters close to Japan.
Pyongyang is barred from ballistic missile technology under multiple U.N. resolutions.
While China supported strengthened sanctions against North Korea following the reclusive state’s fourth ever nuclear test earlier this year, Beijing’s attitude appears to have shifted since South Korea announced last month that it would be deploying the American anti-missile system THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) by the end of 2017.
New York-based sources cited by local news agency Yonhap revealed China insisted that any new statement of condemnation should also oppose the planned THAAD deployment, by stating that North Korean provocations should not be considered a valid pretext for the move.
The United States, which like Beijing enjoys the power of veto on the Security Council, is understood to have refused China’s demand.
Already Pyongyang’s most important economic and political partner, China has made clear it is not happy about Washington’s expanding role in the region – there are nearly 30,000 U.S. troops based in the South.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on the sidelines of last month’s ASEAN Regional Forum that Seoul’s THAAD decision had “undermined bilateral trust”.
He also made a noticeable effort to bolster ties with North Korea when meeting with his Pyongyang counterpart at the same gathering.
