Chinese FM asks Seoul not to provoke Pyongyang

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has sent South Korea a message asking not to provoke North Korea, which is mourning the death of leader Kim Jong Il. China has reportedly sent the same message to the U.S. and Japan.

"We understand that Yang delivered the message over the phone to his (South) Korean counterpart Kim Sung-hwan Tuesday," a government source in Seoul said Thursday. "This indicates that Beijing sides with Pyongyang as a means to increase its influence over North Korea out of fear that stability of the North Korean regime could be threatened after Kim`s death."

Another source said, "Yang stressed that he disagrees with a measure that harms the stability and peace on the Korean Peninsula."

China`s tough message embarrassed Seoul, with voices saying the message of "Don`t provoke Pyongyang" reflects arrogant diplomacy on the part of Beijing.

This stance implies that Beijing is trying to get closer to Pyongyang to increase its presence in North Korea in the wake of Kim`s death. While China preaches to South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, it has refused any summit talks on dealing with Kim`s death.

Seoul sees this as Beijing’s gesture to reassure Pyongyang, which is fearful that China could turn against it by teaming up with South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. Critics, however, claim this is not an irresponsible attitude as a global superpower. Increased Chinese intervention in the North would be a warning sign to South Korea that Beijing intends to take the initiative in policy toward Pyongyang.

South Korea sent its chief nuclear negotiator Lim Sung-nam to China two days after Kim’s death. Lim will discuss North Korea under successor Kim Jong Un and the resumption of the six-party nuclear talks with Chinese officials, including China`s top nuclear negotiator Wu Dawei.

zeitung@donga.com lightee@donga.com