Pyongyang announced Friday its plan to launch a satellite next month, setting off another round of condemnation from South Korea, Japan and the US. China summoned North Korea’s ambassador to China to express its concerns. …China appears to be put in an awkward position every time Pyongyang makes a surprise move. It has to maintain a balance between preventing radical actions in the peninsula and keeping friendly ties with North Korea. Pyongyang is acquiring a stronger nuclear ability and strategic striking power despite daunting external pressures. Seoul, Tokyo and Washington are … counting on the fact that China can eventually bring Pyongyang to its knees. But it’s … flawed logic. China should distance itself from the policy these three countries insist on. They need to answer the question of why the financially strapped North Korea is obsessed with developing strategic weapons, and why it barely cares about the condemnation from international community. The reason is simple: North Korea feels insecure.

…As long as South Korea, Japan and the US do not give North Korea a sense of security, it will not stop lashing back at them. …With decades-old sanctions still in effect, [Pyongyang] has nothing more to lose. North Korea’s concept of security has become extreme, but so have the security requirements of Seoul, Tokyo and Washington towards Pyongyang. …China is not able to persuade North Korea, largely because it is not able to persuade Seoul, Tokyo and Washington. Pyongyang’s action is responsive. The world should have a clear mind of China’s role in the Korean peninsula. If China had not done its part, the situation could have been much messier. …China should seek new ways to influence North Korea. It is not simply yielding to North Korea’s demand, but it cannot shape North Korea according to the will of Seoul, Tokyo and Washington. China needs to tell North Korea the truth. Pyongyang and its people will suffer the most if the impasse persists. — (March 19)