US presses Beijing to help punish North Korea

The International Community has to face deep troubles regarding North Korea’s behavior. Last week, it made nuclear test which is completely prohibited for the country. Following these events, the world doesn’t really know how to react. In 2006, UN Security Council already took a resolution against North Korea for a similar action. But now, many countries think that is enough, the 2006 sanction was not tough enough.

The US particularly wishes China’s involvement. Yet, it doesn’t seem sure. The White House is afraid that Chinese try o stay away form severe sanctions. China’s cooperation is requested for a global effort to disrupt the flow of money to North Korea’s leader. Chinese owned bank could hold some accounts. Thus China must play a key role. Traditionally, China’s government tolerated North Korea’s actions. It feared more internal threats than North Korea’s ambition. However, according to Chinese officials, the situation is getting worth.

So China is now observing North Korea’s neighbors reacts. South Korea and Japan decided last week to join a US led security campaign to stop the spread of nuclear material. It seems important to remember that North Korea should have help Syria to construct a nuclear reactor (Israel destroyed it in 2007). Moreover, if one new nation can get nuclear weapons, others countries will also apply for that. The “terror balance” could be broken and in a dark projection, peace too (Iran’s case for instance). The US also has doubts about a UN resolution. It is hard to define Moscow’s opinion (which holds a veto in the Security Council). They think that severe sanctions are too much.

Yet for US, the situation is clearly grave. The alert level is the highest and they are thinking about all options to punish North Korea including a military strike. US officials are ready to consider that option if others could fail. Such position is quite new because comparing to Clinton or Bush’s mandate which never really thought about a military riposte. Obama world’s image could change. Since the beginning he is trying to show himself as a peace maker (he stopped American commitment in Iraq and vows to close Guantanamo jail). Yet, American foreign policy can be reinvented in few months…

Regarding to these facts, the US need a Chinese involvement. China is the most influential neighbor of North Korea and also participates to the multilateral talks.