Reasons for a Policy of Engagement with North Korea: The Role of China

IntroductionSince the Korean War (1950-1953), China has provided North Korea with most of its food and energy supplies and accounted for the majority of North Korea's total trade volume. China's primary consideration in maintaining close ties to North Korea has long been a strategic interest in stability on the Korean peninsula; frequently countering international efforts to punish the regime for its nuclear activities. In its continuous defiance, North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January 2016, longrange missile launch in February 2016, and fifth nuclear test in September 2016 have catalyzed Chinese cooperation with the United States to pass a stronger-thanexpected UN Security Council resolution condemning North Korea for its nuclear development efforts. As a result, some North Korean experts predict that China may change its North Korean policy.This essay has five major objectives. First, it briefly discusses the Korean War which created a two-state peninsula. Second, it discusses the future of North Korea- predictions for the future of North Korea typically fall into three broad scenarios: war, collapse, and continuation of a two-state peninsula with some reforms. Third, it lists and describes a number of reasons why China will try to maintain a two state peninsula indefinitely. It is true that there is growing Chinese resentment at North Korea's willingness to take Chinese support for granted and put Chinese strategic interest at risk, but China will never change its North Korean policy as long as the United States and its allies do not stop their strangulation policy on North Korea. Fourth, it explains why the United States and its allies should build diplomatic and economic ties with North Korea for stability on the Korean peninsula and surrounding region.The Korean WarOn the morning of June 25, 1950, North Korea attacked South Korea, captured the South Korean capital of Seoul within four days, and subsequently overran twothirds of South Korea within a month. Five days after the North Korean invasion, American President Henry S Truman sent American air and naval forces to assist South Korea. A few days later, he authorized the bombing of specific targets in North Korea, approved the use of ground forces in the fighting, and started a naval blockade of the entire Korean coast.Both South Korean and U.S. forces took a last stand in the Pusan region in the southeastern corner of the peninsula. Realizing the grave danger to South Korea's existence, Truman requested the assistance of the United Nations. The UN Security Council condemned North Korea as an aggressor and asked UN member nations to provide military and other assistance for South Korea. Consequently, troops from the U.S. and 15 other nations organized UN forces and joined the South Korean forces. U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur was placed in command of the UN forces. The U.S. forces launched a counterattack against North Korean forces as additional UN forces and troops from Great Britain, France, Canada, Australia, Turkey, and other countries arrived in Korea.On September 15, 1950, UN forces made a successful amphibious assault far behind North Korean lines at Inchon, near Seoul, and repelled North Korean forces in the South. This surprise amphibious landing at Inchon struck the North Korean army at its flank and severed its supply lines. The UN forces recaptured Seoul on September 28. Under the authorization given by the UN and the U.S. government, U.S. and South Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel in pursuit of fleeing North Korean troops. The UN forces captured the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on October 19, 1950, and quickly pressed north along the peninsula as far as Yalu River, which marks Korea's border with China.To prevent the defeat of North Korea, however, 150,000 Chinese troops poured into Korea in the middle of October from Manchuria and pushed the UN forces back to the 38th parallel. The UN forces withdrew from North Korea during the winter of 1950 and abandoned Seoul to the aggressors on January 4, 1951. …

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