Choi, Jinwook

Abstract
North Korea’s provocations after the third nuclear test have affected the Chinese stance towards the regime. China has condoned the North’s nuclear weapons because of its preoccupation with the regime’s stability. China is concerned that Korean unification triggered by North Korea’s instability could lead to a stronger and more robust U.S.-ROK alliance. Ironically, the costs of the Chinese efforts to keep North Korea stable could indeed result in a stronger U.S.-ROK alliance in the short-run. Thus, China is playing a more active role in discouraging North Korea from escalating tensions. Seoul’s efforts to open channels of dialogue with North Korea are welcomed by both the U.S. and China. In this sense, a multilateral dialogue process in Northeast Asia should not be put off. A multilateral cooperation in Northeast Asia is a very important part of the Park Geun-hye government’s North Korean policy, which believes that inter-Korean relations should be closely aligned with regional security cooperation.
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