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N. Korean nuke issue heats up Chinese public opinions

Posted September. 18, 2017 07:23,   

Updated September. 18, 2017 07:47

한국어

As North Korea continues to show rapid improvements in nuclear and missile technologies, more and more debates on policies designed towards the Korean Peninsula are gaining heat in China, the aiding country to the reclusive nation. The debate openly held to the public are led by scholars and former officials, and issues range from responsibilities of North Korea, ways to deal with the crisis from the neighboring peninsula, stopping crude oil transfer to the North, the rationale behind the retaliating response to THAAD deployed in South Korea.

It is true that since the former Hu Jintao administration, China is seeing minority groups led by the academic circle speak up to core foreign affairs policies, which opposition cannot be tolerated. Nonetheless, it is still very peculiar to see the discussions held public at this sensitive point of time when North Korea launched its sixth nuclear missile and the international society demand Beijing to stop aiding crude oil to Pyongyang.

"Though some researchers’ arguments remain as a minority and do not represent the Chinese government, it is also true that Beijing has reached at a critical point where it needs to make policy shifts," a Beijing foreign affairs correspondent said.



Wan-Jun Yun zeitung@donga.com · Ja-Ryong Koo bonhong@donga.com