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Subscribe to RSSThe international community is condemning North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket, with the US and its allies calling it a test of technology that Pyongyang would need to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
BEIJING - There was anger and dismay after North Korea launched a long-range rocket into orbit on Wednesday -- plenty of it in South Korea and Japan. There was also surprise.
North Korea had warned of a possible delay to the launch for "technical reasons," although there was speculation that the real reason was political, that China was applying pressure behind the scenes. After all, Beijing had expressed "deep concern" over the test, and that is pretty strong for China, the North's closest diplomatic and economic ally.
So Wednesday's test would seem to be an extraordinary snub to China, when it might be assumed that North Korea's new young leader, Kim Jong Un, would want to get off on a good footing with China's new Communist Party chief, Xi Jinping.
North Korea watchers have been speculating that Kim is angling for an early audience with Xi, which so far has been denied.
North Korea says it successfully launched controversial satellite into orbit
KCNA via Reuters
North Korean scientists work as a screen shows the Unha-3 (Milky Way 3) rocket being launched Wednesday.
Launching a rocket in defiance of Beijing would hardly seem a great way of achieving it.
Beijing's initial response was a masterful piece of diplomatic contortionism -- expressing "regret" and calling on Pyongyang to abide by U.N. Security Council resolutions, but at the same time making clear that China isn't about to back sanctions against the North.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman called for a resumption of six-party talks, even though these have been widely discredited, and called for "all sides" to act calmly.
There was anger, dismay and some surprise as North Korea launched a rocket in defiance of its critics abroad. NBC's Ian Williams reports from Beijing.
North Korea claims US mainland within range of its missiles
International talks are a big favorite of Beijing, which likes the role of diplomatic ringmaster.
Pyongyang squandered the United States’ trust earlier this year after its April missile test torpedoed a February agreement with the Americans that would have traded U.S. food aid for a suspension of major elements of its nuclear program.
So, what to make of North Korean-China relations? And what pressure is China willing and able to exert on North Korea?
Despite the rocket launch’s international reverberations, Pyongyang's motive was largely domestic, according to Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt of the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental organization that works to prevent deadly conflict around the world.
The move was meant to boost the standing of the young Kim, who has not yet fully consolidated power, and whose credibility was damaged by the failure earlier this year of another attempt to put a satellite into orbit (a thinly disguised ballistic missile test in the view of the U.S. and her allies), she said.
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un still a mystery, Leon Panetta says
And it is fair to speculate that Kim was probably on the edge of his seat during the launch.
"This definitely will be used heavily for internal propaganda in North Korea," Kleine-Ahlbrandt told NBC News. "It's certainly important in light of the failed rocket launch we saw in April."
There have also been reports in the South Korean press (always to be taken with caution) that after purging his enemies, Kim himself was feeling vulnerable, and had limited his travel outside of Pyongyang while beefing up security around his residences with armored vehicles.
Pyongyang also probably wanted to show Beijing that it is not beholden to anybody, Kleine-Ahlbrandt said, which would seem like quite a high stakes game given the parlous state of the North Korean economy.
Reuters TV
A North Korean KRT TV presenter announces the successful launch in this still image taken from TV.
North Korea: We found a unicorn lair
So, how to read China’s reaction?
“They could certainly do more to pressure Pyongyang,” Kleine-Ahlbrandt said. “And the West would certainly like to see them do that.”
As Beijing prizes stability above all else and would not want to do anything that would further exacerbate tensions or hasten the demise of a fragile regime, China may have a longer-term goal in mind, she said. Beijing was probably intent on heading off another nuclear test, which the North has hinted at, and that would be seen internationally as a far graver development than Wednesday’s rocket launch.
Yan Xuetong, the dean of the Institute of International Studies at Beijing’s Tsinghua University, had a more nuanced view of Chinese diplomacy.
“If China wants to maintain its relatively large influence over North Korea, it has no choice but to adopt a different policy,” than the U.S., he told Reuters.
China was likely as surprised as anybody else by the timing of the launch.
If it is to step up pressure, Beijing is unlikely to publicize it actions. Its immediate aim has been to get the North to adopt Chinese-style economic reforms.
Back in 2010, as part of the leak of the U.S. diplomatic cable, it was revealed that Chinese officials had described North Korea as a “spoiled child.” That assessment is unlikely to have changed.
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Leave a Comment:
China needs to understand that North Korea is nobody's 'ally', and NK will attack anyone at any time over the most inconsequential thing. The rulers of NK do not seem to understand that even though they have a moderate amount of power for the size of their country, they cannot possibly manage to sustain a war for much more than a few months, considering the state of advanced weapons around the world. The 'spoiled child' description fits NK perfectly.
If they know that can only go to war for a short time, why would they go to war over the most inconsequential thing?
Rob99,
Same reason that they created a decade-long famine to become a nuclear-armed nation. Insanity with a big scoop of hubris on top. Same reason they announce their missiles can hit the US, a "we dare you to stop us" from a pipsqueek with their big brother standing behind them.
Guess what NK, China likes the trappings of capitalism more than they worry about invaison through the Korean penninsula. It's going to take time, but "buh-bye" NK, buh-bye.
The NK people would be so much better off if China just conquered them.
You said it Arsenic, it's that age old combo of crazy and stupid that makes them behave this way.
@AG99
The US would be better if England reconquered us too.
If China cherishes stability and it's economy, it would spank this child.
While that is most certainly true, China doesn't want them. Neither does South Korea. It's better for them to keep the problem contained than suddenly have to figure out what to do with over 20 million unskilled, uneducated, malnourished people.
Why is it, that if the US is ever accused of similar "acts," this administration is always quick to apologize?
On second thought, do we ever test anything or present a "show of military strength" to the world?
And I'm not talking about Bin Laden and the Drone attacks.
Newsflash: Expect the United Nations to impose more sanctions on North Korea.
Yep, those sanctions really work well in other countries also.
@ kkwilson
Yeah, we still flex our muscles. We usually do it through military exercises and war games with our allies in the Persian Gulf to intimidate Iran, or in the Yellow Sea or Sea of Japan to intimidate North Korea.
kkwilson, the US ... or in your case Obama ... didn't apologize to anyone. That just another right-wing extremist "fair and balanced" media outlet spewing stuff that just like the pre-election polls, was a lie.
You people know they lie to you, you have listened to it over and over, but still you believe whatever they tell you.
duh?
North Korea is not defying China. If China wanted to the latest Kim would be gone and the Korean nation unified under the South in days. China wants a crazy starving North Korea for two reasons. One, to act like a cork in the bottle. Things may suck living in China but walking away/out through North Korea is so unappealing and down right impossible for the Chinese that it serves the Chinese governments plans to stop a East German style walk away by it's people. We add to that problem wit the two mile wide militarized demilitarized zone which is all but impassible. Two, North Korea serves China's need to cause the West and Asian nations to be cautious and scared. Both in Asia and around the world. China is a very old nation/society. They have a long term goal. They will have Taiwan and the mineral and oil rich South China Sea. They just need to apply slight pressure. Like a little flowing water that will eventually create the Grand Canyon.
you all forgetting one thing , they got it into orbit , Everything worked enough to get it into orbit. JFA
North Korea does what China wants it to do...China will never let NK fall. So it would be a long war and we would loss again.
North Korea only exists because of China. The UN taskforce had essentially swept through NK during the Korean War until China decided to push back and force a stalemate to the current borders rather than invade Taiwan like they had planned. To completely let go of NK now would be an admission of their past goverments geopolitical mistakes, which we all know no country will ever do.
East and West Germany got put back together again, maybe it's time to start pressuring for the ouster of the current regime.
MJ899...correct observation that everyone seems to be ignoring. The North Koreans did not actually achieve orbit, but the trajectory "could have" achieve orbit. Splitting hairs, I know and your observation is the cogent one.
Stakes have changed, up till now, a conflict on the Korean Peninsula could have devastating effects of the world wide economy and tear the two Koreas apart, it would at least be contained physically to Korea. Not any more...the North Koreans just jointed the "Big Boy" league. They not only threaten the US and Japan, but the time frame to ramp up and fire will get shorter and eventually they be able to put a missile up in thirty to sixty minutes. We now have to contend with another nuclear armed enemy with intercontinental reach capability. For the last eleven years we've been sweating over a terrorist group getting their hands on a nuke and the North Koreans (terrorists in their own right) have worked out the kinks in their missile system.
Oh that's disgusting. One commie ignoring another one.
RTColorado,
I agree.
Welcome to the birth of a new cold war.
And if North Korea continues to make strides in the intercontinental delivery of nuclear warheads, we may soon miss the days of the old Iron Curtain.
Nice to know that Kim Jung Un is as nuts as his old man was.
It'd be nice if our politicians put pressure on China to publicly and politically repudiate this, but since there's far too many American dollars tied up in China, that's not likely to happen.
North Korea will continue down this path mostly unimpeded...and unlike Iran, they have the means to get to whatever terrible destination they're headed towards.
North Korea has acted like a spoiled child since the cease fire on November 29, 1952. That's a long time to carry on a temper tantrum. The reality is that the myth of external threats, self aggrandizement and information restriction and isolation is the preferred methods of maintaining power over their own population. The food deal with the United States, I'm sure was seen by the new regime as weakness, or at least an opportunity to show Kim's strength.
North Korea's military capabilities are quite limited as well. They are well equipped for a limited duration, high intensity conflict, but not a sustained conflict. It's unlikely China would intervene on the side of North Korea. I don't know for a fact but I rather doubt China is providing them with state-of-the-art equipment and training. There is a good deal of tension between the two allies that we only get a hint of from time to time. China is not happy about the North Korean refugees crossing the border (which neither side will discuss in any great detail). North Korea's nasty habit of throwing temper tantrums, I'm pretty sure, is also wearing thin with the Chinese who are trying to establish themselves as a world diplomatic player. I would expect a continuation of this pattern of behavior until China finally put's their foot down. That will probably only happen if North Korea does something incredibly stupid, like attack South Korea or start flexing their muscle in the South China Sea (China's declared area of national interest). IMHO
North Korea launches missile, with small payload...... That's what she said!
A TROLL said:
What ignorance is this? The United States has never apologized for space launches, military exercises or outright attacks on other nations. Those drone strikes into Pakistan, Yemen and Sudan? No one is apologizing, except for the collateral damage. Military satellites? No apology. Last week's launch of the secret military shuttle? No apologies there either. So, if you know of some "apology" please state the date and who made the apology. Otherwise you are just blowing smoke up our collective rears.
Probably a FAUX NEWS troll.
I think what people forget is the NK government actually uses its own people as hostages. Whether they would last in a war is irrelevant as they would sooner see themselves obliterated (and their population) than see their government collapse and people free.
TEvil
Definitely some truth to your comments. The fact that their drive for power and self preservation, IMO somewhat limits their likely actions makes all out war with South Korea or the US unlikely. They love to attract attention to themselves with provocative acts and they use it as a bargaining chip, but they always know when to pull back. Again, you can't stay in power if you're dead.
I'll have you know this is well established, time honored right wing ignorance...thank you very much! A tradition dating back to the early 1950s and the John Birch Society...at least. Possibly as far back as the heady days of Prescott Bush vs FDR.
I believe North Korea see's itself as a world power because manpower wise it has the fifth largest military in the world which is why they're always a danger. That's why they attacked a South Korean ship and shelled their island. The reality is according to military firepower rankings they rank 22nd behind Poland. I think anyone believing they wouldn't dare attack South Korea or us might well be mistaken. Of course such a country that quickly had it's air assets and forward forces destroyed might well use nuclear weapons.
They're our solar system's version of the Pakleds.
Nice one. "Make it go" away.
"We are smart."
Nerds.
Funny nerds.
Had to Google that reference. Pretty funny.
OR it could be that China have about as much as influence(probably way less than) on NK as US have on Israel. Rocket lunch... new west bank settlements...
JesterJames: Absolutely true. Israel nods and agrees to consider our views then does exactly as they wish. North Korea believes with nuclear weapons that even though they need China they are equals not as a child with China the parent.
North Korean anchorwomen are very attractive.
Bi, You need to get out more if you think she is attractive,
lol
At least she looks like a real person instead of a supermodel.
usmc ron, you need to look up sarcasm in the dictionary
AuroraF1, There are several ways to indicate the use of sarcasm in written text. Such (sarcasm), /s/, "xxxx", or a ~ underlined or the use of a emoticon. If you don't know how to use them don't use sarcasm. The written word does not have tone, inflection or facial expressions to indicate when one is being sarcastic. On newsvine or any blog it is hard to tell when one is being sarcastic or is just a dumb@ss.
You must be blind...
Oh, all right...
Bi Polar Wookie w/a PhD - your perception of beauty is warped, warped I tells ya! That North Korean anchor woman is very unattractive. Also, I can tell by your name and avatar that you don't have a sense of humor.
But if you were being sarcastic, well, ya shoulda made it even more blindingly obvious by spelling it out!
I disagree, if you can't tell that's sarcasm, you don't deserve to know.
You didn't see the face he made when he typed that?
Who gives a @!$%#...
Most people John. The NK's are trying to come up with something they can sell to any one willing to pay for it.
I don't think so Tag. NK is just saying "don't mess with us, we can drop rockets on you too!" It is the mark of self-esteem for them to have this. Their military now feels a sense of superiority, because before all they had was a million bodies. Now they have a weapon, just like the big boys!
It's juche.
Because China really doesn't care. Put the breaks on Chinese imports and then see how quickly they support sanctions against North Korea, Iran and the other idiots of the world.
Put the brakes on Chinese imports?? Dumb idea. Then where are Americans going to get the garbage that they give for Christmas presents?
Putting the brakes on Chinese imports puts Wal-Mart out of business...two birds with one stone.
China has been building up markets all around the world, not just the US. Sure, it will dent their profits but not for long!
There were a lot of "probably"s, "maybe"s, and "if"s in this article.
Exactly Indiana. There was nothing concrete in this article, only speculation. NK DOES NOT need anybody's permission to launch a satellite just as the US, Japan, France, GB, Germany or, any other country in the world don't bother to ask for permission.
IndianaEngineer...
I don't know...the NORAD statement sounded pretty definitive to me.
How in the world did we get a picture of North Korean military scientists in the rocket control room ?
it's actually footage from an old Godzilla movie...
Press release.
Those aren't scientists. And that isn't a rocket control room. That is a film studio set, or a movie theater dressed up, extremely unconvincingly, to look like a control room. Some of those "scientists" are surfing the web, watching cartoons or TV weather reports, playing video games, etc.
Hilarious. Surreal and hilarious.
Aurora: that's just delusional!
Waddya talkin' about? I can see "Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy" on one of the video screens. I'll bet it's a pirated version too...
@mc;
Yes I was wondering that also.
@aurora;
Funny post,but only in their dreams are they surfing the web.
yeah the intranet more likely.
@ Greg.
I always put lol but i did actually laugh out loud on that one.
For his coronation & the first (failed) rocket launch, The New Kim allowed Western press into the country. They were able to get photos of this, as well as the failed rocket's intended trajectory, which also proved their missile was not for satellite launching, but for intercontinental balistics- the trajectory was highly innefficient for an orbtial target, and extremely efficient for send the rocket to another continent.
In terms of China- they are like all parents of spoiled children. They spent their whole time being the child's friend, getting the child to like them instead of respect them, thinking that, somehow, the two were equivelent or that "like" would lead to respect, and then are surprised when the child has no respect at all for them, and, since the child had no real parent and never learned respect for authority (why should they respect anyone else's authority when they won't even respect their own parent's?) then the parent cries saying "Why? I don't understand!"
In terms of NK's nuclear goals, why should they bother? They have the perfect deal. Iran develops nuclear material that is borderline civilian/military purpose and claims they want it for energy only, yet, given two weeks time, can have their entire supply refined further to be weapons grade. With no working medium or long range missiles/delivery system, suckers... I mean, well meaning believers of their propoganda... believe them. North Korea develops the long range missiles/delivery system under the guise of orbital ambitions. They trade what the other has developed and now they run that side of the globe.
Too much speculation. So what if they lucked out and sent a rocket into orbit. If they fire something at the US they're going to get 1000X the amount sent back to them, end of story.
10X is plenty. NK is not very big.
I like the idea of making sure the job gets done right the first time ;)
Payback wouldn't console the people in LA or San Francisco much.
North Korea will do what ever it wants, they could care less about paper tigers warning them
Do you mean they couldn't care less? Otherwise, they care.
yeah, and your noun and pronoun don't agree either. Sheesh!
I'm not sure we can assume that the Chinese were really surprised by the launch. That's what they're saying but who knows what advance knowledge they actually had? They are masters at posturing and deception.
North Korea is far from stupid. They alerted the world that they were going to fire a missle and all knew it would be harmless. Now, the US I pray is not stupid either. If NK fires a true weapon, we are ready to take it out.
Bullies hate it when the little guy stands up for himself. Way to go North Korea!
Your attempt at trolling is a pathetic failure. It is highly likely that your are a vacuous twat.
Um, twit might be more appropriate.
not trolling, I'm serious...until the playing field is level, there can be no peace
I'm thinking idiot, not twit or troll, just plain idiot... and just plain lost would have been a more fitting user name
@ lost gravity: You'rea Democrat, right?
Registered Republican, thanks. Also, thanks for insulting me when I said nothing personal towards you. Glad my ideas have that effect on you, yet yours have so little on me.
lost gravity I am with you.....Funny how bullies like the usa love picking on countries like north korea but don't have much to say to folks like Vladimir Putin ????? A very level playing field is the best defense against terrorism and wars. Go North Korea BRAVO
way to go norht korea!!! you must be north korean or a very stupid person> and if your not for me your against me (usa) so get the @!$%# out from here!!
Look at this guy who can't capitalize, punctuate, spell or even form a coherent sentence calling someone else a very stupid person. Newsvine at its absolute finest!
Don't feed the trolls.
NK has starved their population for decades and spent all of their meager resources on rocket and nuclear technology. Eventually the peasants will revolt and overthrow this clueless dictator and I don't doubt that the west will back them.
I'd bet this launch gave Fat Boy a chubbie! Maybe even a full-on woodie! Of course, that probably was over before he next saw his "wife".
NKorea is like the ungrateful child who will take and even expect aid from anywhere and owe nothing in return. China does not want to be bothered by internal NKorean affairs. But China should be concerned that it has a nation with a dubious record of technical improvements on their own, but tend to hobble together things acquired from outside sources, constructing nuclear weapons and sometimes running atomic power plants, not far from Chinese territory. another problem is that anytime NK has a major difficulty, china runs the risk of having to beef up its border security for stopping NK refugees from entering China.
L.O. hahhahaha L. That's funny - I bet you're American, too.
These nut bags need to be dealt with. We don't need the combination of nukes and missiles in a country full of crazies. I think it's as bad as having the same in some mideast countries. I think they would use them in a heartbeat.
Some of the biggest "Nutbags" are in the countries that already have nuclear weapons and missles and have already actually used them on civilian populations.
Roland Your comment is DEAD ON !!!!! There is really only 1 nutbag country that ever dropped nukes on civilians. Actually they did it twice
"Spoiled Child"? Why minimize a cruel monster? This is not daytime drama this is reality and people are dying by the hundreds at the hands of this monster.
It was Chinese officials who referred to North Korea as a "spoiled child". The article was quoting them.
North Korea. You are bad. VERY BAD. STOP IT!
The peasants are revolting.
No kidding, they stink on ice.
The best way to stop this insanity in North Korea is to have China slap them down. They will fear China and they certainly have no fear of Obama or weak kneed Washington. Watch China flex their mucsels and make their first step as an up and coming super power and demonstrate to the world that when China speaks other do listen, unlike no one who listens to the hot air hollow rhetoric US anymore.
Are people really surprised by the North's actions? Then have been doing this kind of stuff for ages.
What's up with GIGANTIC mostly empty rooms in North Korea?
Tea dancing in the afternoons.
Don't kid yourselves, NK, does NOTHING without the approval of China. To think otherwise is to be very naive. China, uses NK, for their own purposes and can't afford to have them as an allies of the west, thats there main concern. As usual, they have no problem saying something in public, knowing full well that it's a lie....
Best to do and say nothing about these meaningless launches and let the country continue to starve themselves to death. Let China, deal with the millions of people that will cross the boarders. Thats China's real fear.....
As far as the punk kid that is running the country, forget him, the military is and will continue to be the real player.
Come get Jim Oberg on he's your resident expert. He was here for the last launch and took the rocket apart just by looking at.