| When the United Nations Security Council passed | | | | engulf the region. China knows that the North |
| Resolution 1718 on October 14, it agreed to | | | | Korean economy is in dire straits. The people are |
| impose economic sanctions against North Korea | | | | starving and the situation seems to get worse |
| for testing a nuclear device earlier in the month. | | | | with each passing month.USA Today reported |
| The resolution condemned the atomic test, | | | | recently that the World Food Program warned it |
| demanded that the DPRK conduct no further | | | | might have to cut food aid to North Korea early |
| tests or ballistic missile launches, and called upon all | | | | next year because donations from the world |
| United Nations member states to stop the trade | | | | community have fallen woefully short. According |
| of various weapons systems, luxury goods, and | | | | to USA Today, the WFP has collected only |
| certain technologies with North Korea.Of course, | | | | 10-percent of the $102 million it needs to provide |
| the communist dictatorship of Kim Jong-Il | | | | food to North Korea for the next two |
| immediately rejected the resolution and | | | | years.China has been propping up Kim's regime for |
| threatened war on nations imposing economic | | | | a long time, flooding the country with money, |
| sanctions on the DPRK. Why the bellicose | | | | food, and consumer goods. While the government |
| rhetoric? Because North Korea knows that the | | | | in Beijing does not want to see nuclear |
| sanctions resolution is more show than actual | | | | proliferation in its backyard, it also does not want |
| punishment, and the provisions of Resolution 1718 | | | | to deal with an economic and humanitarian |
| will be selectively enforced.Almost as soon as the | | | | disaster that experts warn could happen as soon |
| resolution was passed, the Chinese government | | | | as three months from now.For now, at least, it |
| stated that it would not participate in the | | | | appears that the enforcement of sanctions in the |
| inspection of cargo entering and exiting North | | | | region will be limited to the efforts of the United |
| Korea. After some diplomatic prodding from the | | | | States and Japan. Other countries, such as |
| United States, China began limited checks of | | | | long-time American ally Australia, will prevent |
| North Korean trucks crossing its border, but has | | | | North Korean ships from entering their ports and |
| thus far not agreed to inspect cargo ships | | | | will suspend trade with the DPRK. China will go |
| transiting the waters in the region.China is hesitant | | | | through the motions of random checks at the |
| to enforce tough sanctions on North Korea | | | | border to make it look as if they are doing their |
| because the threat of regional instability from a | | | | part to enforce the U.N. resolution. They may |
| governmental collapse in Pyongyang is perceived | | | | even freeze some funds and restrict travel |
| to be greater than the risk of a North Korean | | | | between the two countries.But in the end, real |
| nuclear attack on Chinese soil. If Kim Jong-Il | | | | enforcement of economic sanctions is not an |
| decided to launch an atomic device at his | | | | immediate concern for the Chinese. While the |
| long-time benefactor, the response would be swift | | | | United States wants to prevent the acquisition of |
| and crushing, without any Chinese fear of | | | | nuclear weapons by a ruthless dictator, China |
| repercussions from the world community.But if | | | | wants to avoid the consequences of a complete |
| North Korea collapses under the weight of | | | | implosion by its eastern neighbor. And as long as |
| crippling economic sanctions, China faces a | | | | that is the case, the Chinese can be expected to |
| humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. Refugees | | | | do little to stop Kim Jong-Il's nuclear pursuits. |
| would flood across the border and instability would | | | | |