By Yi Whan-woo
China has refused to lend support for the United Nations to press North Korea harder due to its strong opposition to the planned deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here.
Such a refusal is deepening worries that international cooperation to prevent Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions will be at risk and North Korea will take advantage of a new Cold War rivalry stemming from THAAD-related issues.
The U.N Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday stopped short of adopting a formal statement against North Korea for its latest ballistic missile launches on Aug. 3, after China demanded the inclusion of a clause concerning THAAD, according to the U.N. sources, Wednesday.
Beijing said Pyongyang’s military provocations should not be used an excuse to set up a new anti-ballistic missile base on the Korean Peninsula and a related clause should be inserted in the UNSC statement.
The United States rejected China’s proposal and they failed to narrow their differences, the sources said. Both the U.S. and China are veto-wielding members of the UNSC.
Last week, the 15 UNSC members also failed to endorse a statement against North Korea for firing the two mid-range Rodong ballistic missiles.
Source said China and Russia ― which opposes the deployment of THAAD as well ― may have expressed reservations about adopting a statement.
The UNSC previously failed to come up with a statement in response to Pyongyang’s firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), July 9, and also three ballistic missiles ― presumably two Rodongs and one Scud ― July 22.
The series of missile launches violated UNSC Resolution 2270, which was adopted in March in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test, Jan. 6, and firing of a long-range rocket, Feb. 7.
However, speculation has been rampant that China has remained lukewarm about Pyongyang’s continued provocations while taking retaliatory moves against South Korea since July 8 when Seoul and Washington agreed on placing a THAAD battery in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province by next year.
Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University in China, warned that Beijing may stop pressing Pyongyang to protest THAAD.
In a media interview published, Wednesday, Shi said presence of a THAAD battery will affect China’s national interest, destabilize security in Northeast Asia and trigger an arms race in the region. He also said China may bolster its military ties with Russia.
Some Chinese scholars speculated that Beijing may return to its “blood alliance” with Pyongyang, according to Rep. Shin Dong-kuen of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK).
“I’ve been told it will be the worst outcome that South Korea may face,” Shin said.
He was among six MPK lawmakers who visited China from Monday to Wednesday to convey thoughts against installing THAAD. They held a discussion with security and diplomatic experts in Beijing.
Meanwhile, Vice Admiral James Syring, director of the Missile Defense Agency under the U.S. Department of Defense, will visit South Korea, Thursday, to discuss THAAD-related issues with the Seoul officials.
Syring is expected to cite technical information and assure the safety of THAAD amid lingering concerns over health and environmental risks associated with electromagnetic radiation emitted from the system’s radar.