Friday, 1 April 2016

North Korea's missile test invoke leaders to find common ground

In an act of defiance against major world leaders, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continued his rebellious tactics by firing yet another missiles after warnings by the US, Japan and South Korea that more would be done if provocations didn't stop. This comes at a time when leaders have gathered in Washington this week for a global nuclear security summit to discuss the latest developments surrounding tensions in the Korean peninsula.

Talks are proceeding slowly as China, a main trade partner and protector of North Korea, is yet to show it's hand over whether it will enforce the recent sanctions imposed on Kim's country by the UN following a nuclear test earlier this year. China has stated previously that it doesn't feel sanctions are sufficient to prevent further retaliation from their neighbours and a need to hold talks between 6 nations namely the US, Japan, China, South Korea, North Korea and Russia is needed to ensure denuclearisation happens.

However Russia's absence from the summit delved a bitter blow to leaders efforts to find a solution with many assuming the uncooperative nature of the West in scaling down its own imposed sanctions on the Kremlin following the annexation of Crimea could be the reason for the lack of participation.

Putin's role in finding a consensus is once again proving pivotal in moving forward highlighting the need for the West to start rethinking its approach to Russia especially with its involvement in Syria. Nothing seems to be clear at the moment but the attacks on Brussels last week are sure to nudge the level of priority upwards if resolution is wanting to be found. We should start to see Putin's presence increase in the coming weeks with anticipation over which of the two issues will be thrashed forward in terms of importance.

But probably the most notable talking point right now would be Kim Jong Un constant defiance but more so when their ally, China is in the presence of new and prominent trade partners that hold greater economic scope than North Korea. Kim's action is confrontational of Beijing, pressing them to show their support as they had done in the past.

This hasn't been the case since China's Premier Xi Jinping made a state visit to North Korea last year pleading with the upstart leader to cool down his retaliatory stance that was causing concerns in the West. Xi feared that Kim was drawing too much attention to a vital part of the Asian region that could harm trilateral relations between themselves, Japan and South Korea.

China however has moved swiftly to relieve any uncertainty by openly talking with South Korea even though both nations have had strained relations in the past. Both nations leaders have laid down a commitment to work with one another that could all but spell doom for Kim Jong Un. The friendly relationship makes it more difficult for China to go back on its word and stamps a feel of genuine concern over the tense situation in the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea's President Park Geun-hye's non-aggressive open invitation for discussions between itself and North Korea further wounds the emotionally charged youthfulness of Kim Jong Un leading to many side with the voice of reason, winning more allies for South Korea.
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