【2010.12.1 The Standard】You spoiled brat!

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http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=10&art_id=105554&sid=30477734&con_type=1

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Beijing has labeled Kim Jong Il's North Korea a "spoiled child" as China runs out of patience with its unruly neighbor.

That's according to the latest leaked US diplomatic cables that are causing uproar in the United States and embarrassing allies and others.

Chinese officials are also quoted in documents released by whistleblowing website WikiLeaks as using mocking language in reference to North Korea, pointing to tensions between the two in contrast to official statements underscoring strong historical ties. Then- Deputy Foreign Minister He Yafei is quoted as telling a US official in April 2009 that Pyongyang was acting like a "spoiled child" by staging a missile test in an attempt to achieve its demand of bilateral talks with Washington.

The cables show China's frustration with Pyongyang and speculate Beijing would accept a future Korean peninsula unified under South Korean rule.

The memos indicate the major importance American and South Korean diplomats place on China's attitude toward the survival of 'Dear Leader' Kim's isolated and impoverished regime.

The release of the documents follows new tensions in the peninsula, with North Korea unleashing an artillery barrage on a South Korean island that killed four people a week ago. The regime also warned that joint US-South Korean naval drills this week have pushed the peninsula to the "brink of war."

China "would be comfortable with a reunified Korea controlled by Seoul and anchored to the US in a 'benign alliance' as long as Korea was not hostile toward China," South Korea's then-vice foreign minister, Chun Yung Woo, is quoted as telling US ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens in February.

The diplomatic cables warn, however, that China would not accept the presence of US troops north of the demilitarized zone that now forms the North-South border. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China has noted the leaked cables but will not comment on specific content.

"China always supports the North and South sides of the Korean peninsula to have dialogue and consultation to improve their relations," Hong said.

Meanwhile, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has claimed a fresh "megaleak" will target a major US bank early next year. Speaking to Forbes magazine, Assange said he is ready to unleash tens of thousands of documents that could "take down a bank or two."

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