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Lu Kang

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that, if North Korea insists on launching a satellite, China cannot stop it, leading to speculation about the purpose of this remark.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Lu Kang made the remark while expressing China’s opposition to “relevant countries” escalating tensions during the regular press conference on Feb. 3.

The remark hints that, since North Korea has already decided to launch the rocket, there are limits on China’s influence. It also seems to be aimed at putting a stop to pressure from the South Korean and American governments on China to play a bigger role. The two governments have been calling on China to increase sanctions to bring about change in North Korea.

During the press conference, Lu also responded to the argument that North Korea’s announcement of another rocket launch was cause to place tougher sanctions on North Korea. “During the stalemate of the six-party talks, in response to a relevant country’s constant outcry for pressure and sanctions, the DPRK started nuclear tests and conducted them over and over again. In this sense, the DPRK slapped the relevant country across the face. As for whose face the DPRK slapped, the country itself knows well,” Lu said, using the abbreviation for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the North’s formal name, and suggesting that the cause of the North Korean nuclear program is the US’s hostile policy toward North Korea.

By Lee Je-hun, staff reporter, and Seong Yeon-cheol, Beijing correspondent

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