Tension between the United States and North Korea continue to intensify; recently the Trump team began to increase pressure on China to use its economic leverage to help constrain leader Kim Jong Un. With mounting concerns about North Korea’s nuclear program and the death of recently released American student Otto Warmbier, tensions are at an all-time high.
Security talks between Chinese officials and diplomats and the Trump administration have led to the US asking for China’s support and assistance in containing North Korea. Currently, about 70% of the trade conducted by North Korea is with China. While Chinese President Xi Jinping was praised by Trump for his efforts, the smaller nation remains unaffected.
In a Tweet this week, the President lauded Chinese diplomacy and leaders for their attempts to help corral the increasingly volatile North Korea situation:
“While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!”
In addition to working with China to impose some kind of sanction on North Korea to rein in the volatile situation caused by leader Kim Jong Un, the United States has also heightened its military presence in the area. In June, two powerful warplanes, B-1B bombers took flight over the Korean Peninsula. This routine exercise included integration with South Korea’s Defense Ministry, and was aimed at further deterring the North from taking unwise action.
Why does China’s role matter so much when it comes to North Korea? China is the nation’s largest trading partner by far. Over 70% of Pyongyang’s trade, including both energy and food, is with China. That overwhelming percentage gives China unprecedented leverage over North Korea, far more than the United States currently has on its own.
Talks with China Continue in Washington
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and other top officials met with Chinese foreign policy leaders in Washington this week to discuss a variety of topics. According to senior East Asia US diplomat Susan Thornton, the topic of North Korea was at the top of the list for discussion. According to Thornton, the United States team would be working with China to implement U.N. Security Council resolutions designed to restrict both technology and revenues for the North Korean missile and nuclear programs.
China officials hope for positive outcomes from the US talks; resumption of negotiations between North Korea and the United States would be beneficial for the Chinese government and all concerned. The ongoing discussions between the US and China are designed to improve both economic and strategic dialogue between the nations; this year’s session has a heavy emphasis on both North Korea and on security in general.
Other topics under consideration include Beijing’s construction of military sites in the South China Sea, and a potential United States/China cooperative force designed to target ISIS and other terrorist groups.
Limited Scope for Punishing North Korea
Since almost all of North Korea’s trade is with China, the Chinese government is better positioned to impose penalties and sanctions. President Trump, like Presidents Obama and Bush before him, is finding it difficult to impose sanctions on the volatile nation of North Korea, particularly over the treatment and arrest of US citizens.
In addition to working with China on security and sanctions, the administration is weighing a travel ban on North Korea; preventing Americans from visiting the country would keep our citizens out of the hands of that nation’s harsh treatment. Most experts agree that China’s involvement is the key to resolving tensions with North Korea.
While the US can place sanctions on Chinese companies that do business with North Korea and indirectly impact the nation that way, taking this route would likely damage the fragile trade alliances we have in place with China.
As tensions with North Korea continue to mount, China is a key player in our ability to rein in this volatile nation and protect American citizens at home and abroad.
Regards,
Ethan Warrick
Editor
Wealth Authority
