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| China-Japan-Koreas | |
| Hu stops short of blaming N. Korea for Cheonan | |
| 2010-06-28 | |
TORONTO, June 27 (Yonhap) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao remained non-committal Sunday in blaming North Korea for the deadly sinking of a warship in March at talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, a repetitive stance that drew unusually blunt criticism from the U.S. leader.
"As North Korea's continued provocation poses a grave threat to the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the Northeast Asian region, proper international cooperation is necessary to prevent its recurrence," Lee was quoted as saying. Hu replied, "I fully understand South Korea's position. Let's continue close consultations in the process of responding (to the issue) at the U.N. Security Council." South Korea has requested that the U.N. Security Council discuss punitive measures against North Korea for its deadly naval attack on the 1,200-ton corvette in March. Forty-six sailors were killed as the Cheonan sank from what a multinational probe concluded was the North's unprovoked torpedo attack. Hu said China "condemns and opposes any act that destroys the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula," but did not name North Korea, repeating what Beijing usually says when South Korea, Japan and their western allies push for tough sanctions against the impoverished communist ally. Obama, who met the Chinese leader on Saturday, pressed Beijing to clarify its position on the matter. "There's a difference between restraint and willful blindness to consistent problems," Obama said at a press conference on the last day of the G-20 summit. "My hope is that President Hu will recognize as well that this is an example of Pyongyang going over the line in ways that just have to be spoken about," he added. Obama reaffirmed North Korea will be made to pay a price for its provocation. It is critical to "send a clear message to North Korea that this kind of behavior is unacceptable, and that the international community will continue to step up pressure until its makes a decision to follow a path that is consistent with the international norms," he said. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 I'll believe Obumble is sincere when a few cruise missiles strike North Korean submarines in port. Anything less is just whistling past the graveyard. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2010-06-28 16:32 |