China says shares U.S. goals on Korea as hotline reopens

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Reuters:

(Reuters) - China and the United States share "broad interests and goals" for the Korean peninsula, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Wednesday as U.S. officials warned that Washington increasingly views North Korea as a direct threat.

The Chinese diplomat, Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai, also repeated calls to restart six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament. His comments came ahead of President Hu Jintao's state visit to the United States from January 18 to 21.

President Barack Obama is likely to urge Hu to increase pressure on North Korea, which triggered regional security concerns last year after the two attacks against South Korea and revelations of advances in its nuclear program.

"China and the United States share broad interests and goals on issues about the (Korean) peninsula," Cui told a news conference in Beijing. "Both countries believe we must protect the peace and stability of the peninsula."

His remarks came a day after visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters in Beijing he expected North Korea to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles within five years.

Gates said because of its nuclear arms and ballistic missile programs, Pyongyang was increasingly becoming a direct threat to the United States, a concern underscored by the top uniformed U.S. military officer on Wednesday.

"This is an evolving threat not just to the region but to the United States specifically," Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters in Washington, noting that North Korea's leader has "not been shy about provocations."

"It's a really dangerous time. ... This capability that he is developing is becoming more and more dangerous so that potential provocations could become more and more catastrophic," Mullen said, adding that China had a "great responsibility" to help calm the situation.

Beijing sees the resumption of six-party talks, last held in 2009, as a key to resolving the latest standoff between the two Koreas, which are still technically at war after signing only a truce in 1953.
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China may be getting ready to distance itself from North Korea as the post-Mini Me era begins. A good cop, bad cop strategy?

[ErnstBlofeld]

Reuters:

 

(Reuters) - China and the United States share "broad interests and goals" for the Korean peninsula, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Wednesday as U.S. officials warned that Washington increasingly views North Korea as a direct threat.

 

The Chinese diplomat, Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai, also repeated calls to restart six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear disarmament. His comments came ahead of President Hu Jintao's state visit to the United States from January 18 to 21.

 

President Barack Obama is likely to urge Hu to increase pressure on North Korea, which triggered regional security concerns last year after the two attacks against South Korea and revelations of advances in its nuclear program.

 

"China and the United States share broad interests and goals on issues about the (Korean) peninsula," Cui told a news conference in Beijing. "Both countries believe we must protect the peace and stability of the peninsula."

 

His remarks came a day after visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters in Beijing he expected North Korea to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles within five years.

 

Gates said because of its nuclear arms and ballistic missile programs, Pyongyang was increasingly becoming a direct threat to the United States, a concern underscored by the top uniformed U.S. military officer on Wednesday.

 

"This is an evolving threat not just to the region but to the United States specifically," Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters in Washington, noting that North Korea's leader has "not been shy about provocations."

 

"It's a really dangerous time. ... This capability that he is developing is becoming more and more dangerous so that potential provocations could become more and more catastrophic," Mullen said, adding that China had a "great responsibility" to help calm the situation.

 

Beijing sees the resumption of six-party talks, last held in 2009, as a key to resolving the latest standoff between the two Koreas, which are still technically at war after signing only a truce in 1953.

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China may be getting ready to distance itself from North Korea as the post-Mini Me era begins. A good cop, bad cop strategy?

 

The Chinese are getting ready to leave North Korea. The Chinese have nothing to gain on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea and Chinese defense officials met last month. The Chinese have their eyes on the oil and natural gas rich Spratly Island chain.