War of diplomacy

Time to win over China and Russia

The U.N. Security Council (UNSC) has started discussions on the March 26 sinking of a South Korean warship. The discussions to decide what to do to rebuke North Korea for its torpedo attack on the 1,200-ton frigate Cheonan are likely to be a lengthy process.

Seoul is going all-out to garner support for its plan to punish the North for the provocation that killed 46 sailors. On the other hand, Pyongyang is trying hard to deny its involvement in the attack, claiming that the results of the international team's probe into the incident were a hoax.

On Monday, investigators from South Korea and five other countries briefed the 15 UNSC member states on their findings that the North was behind the attack. A Seoul official said that no Security Council member has expressed an objection to the investigation outcome. His remarks do not necessarily mean that all the states have accepted the results 100 percent. But most of the nations did not raise questions about the ``scientific and objective" findings.

It is safe to say that the South has gotten off to a smooth start in the council. However, the Seoul government has obstacles to overcome to have the council condemn the North for its hostile act and take appropriate steps against the military regime. First of all, the South should convince the council members of the veracity of the findings so that they can support Seoul's efforts to seek punitive action against the communist state.

The South also needs to prove that Pyongyang's repeated denial of its implication runs counter to the compelling evidence showing that the North's military was behind the ship sinking. North Korean diplomats also held an hour-long session with the council members to claim that they have nothing to do with the incident. The North has even threatened to wage ``all-out war" if sanctions are slapped on it for the naval tragedy.

In this context, the South faces a hectic war of diplomacy to persuade China and Russia, the traditional allies of North Korea, to accept the probe outcome and join Seoul's efforts against Pyongyang. It is regrettable that the two veto-wielding permanent members of the UNSC have expressed reservations over the findings.

Considering the stance of China and Russia, the South Korean government has already hinted at not pressing ahead with additional U.N. sanctions against the North. Seoul now wants the UNSC to issue a watered-down resolution without specifying any sanctions against the North, or a statement by the council president rebuking Pyongyang.

However, the South cannot attain either of the options without winning over China and Russia. In this regard, the European Parliament plans to adopt an anti-North Korea resolution this week to call on the two countries to cooperate in Seoul's bid to hold Pyongyang accountable for the ship sinking. Such a resolution will hopefully help Beijing and Moscow change their mind and move toward denouncing the North for its attack.