Torpedo attack gives leverage to US, China

By Na Jeong-ju

Staff reporter

JEJU ISLAND ― South Korea's push to take North Korea to the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) for sanctions over its alleged torpedo attack on a Navy vessel in March is expected to gain momentum as the leaders of South Korea, Japan and China have agreed to work closely to punish those behind the attack.

During the second round of a three-way summit with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao here on Sunday, President Lee Myung-bak called for a close regional partnership to sternly deal with acts of aggression by North Korea.

He also stressed the importance of China's role in diffusing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and helping North Korea become a responsible member of the international community.

Although China has stopped short of blaming the North and remains cautious about discussing joint actions with South Korea, the United States and Japan, it is a significant achievement that China has agreed to cooperate with the two neighboring countries to address the aftermath of the tragedy, observers here say.

Wen said in the meeting that Beijing will review the results of an international investigation, released in Seoul on May 20, in a fair and objective manner and discuss coordinated action with the countries concerned against those responsible.

The Premier, however, stopped short of blaming the North. Pyongyang has flatly denied its involvement in the deadly sinking of the 1,200-ton frigate Cheonan and claimed any evidence of such was fabricated by Seoul.

Some analysts say the case could be referred to the UNSC in a few weeks as both Washington and Beijing want to use it as leverage to resume the stalled six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear threats.

"It is common understanding between the two superpowers that there should be greater pressure on Pyongyang so that they can reactivate the denuclearization process at an early date," a diplomatic source said on condition of anonymity.

"The resumption of the dialogue will also have symbolic meaning for the U.S.-led efforts to reduce nuclear warheads around the world and prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."

According to media reports, China signaled it could soon join the U.S. and its allies in blaming North Korea in a strategic dialogue with the U.S. in Beijing last week.

On her way back home, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Seoul and shared the outcome of the two-day talks with President Lee and South Korean diplomats.

"As there is hard evidence backing a North Korean attack, what concerns China is that it can be seen as a bad cop protecting a criminal amid unfavorable international sentiment toward North Korea," another source said.

It was widely expected that the North could announce a surprise return to the nuke dialogue following its leader Kim Jong-il's visit to China in early May. However, an early resumption has become almost impossible due to the Cheonan incident, observers said.

Pyongyang withdrew from the multilateral talks in April last year in response to U.N. sanctions over its missile and nuclear tests.

For its part, the Lee administration plans to step up diplomacy with Washington and Beijing to have North Korea be held responsible for the naval tragedy.

Lee's aides said he will hold a bilateral summit with U.S. President Barack Obama in Toronto in late June on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit dealing with the aftermath of the incident. He is expected to call for cooperation from the G-20 member nations in punishing North Korea.