Chinas Response to the United States Security Initiatives: UN Sanctions toward the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea in 2006-2017

Abstract

Since 2006, North Korea continuously conducted nuclear tests, and Today, one of the ongoing debates in international relations concerns is what China will do about North Korea specifically regarding the nuclear issues. And the main debate is that whether China is taking firmer stance toward North Korea after North Koreas third nuclear test in 2013. This study analyzes the Chinas response after each nuclear test through examining diplomatic and economic aspects. The paper proposes a new definition of cooperation by further dividing Keohanes definition of cooperation in to 4 different levels of cooperation. North Korea. Then the research examines whether Chinas responses and behaviors have changed even with Chinas continuous North Korea policy by analyzing patterns of cooperation through Chinas response on each UN sanctions. The findings demonstrated that although its limited, China has been demonstrating the cooperative behavior on UN sanctions especially after 2013. Although the findings implied the shifts in direction of Chinas cooperation, this study affirmed popular view of that China is unlike to take much different action toward North Korea. After each nuclear test, China gave harsher and stronger criticism toward North Korea. Yet, Chinas active cooperation in 2013 and 2016 shifted to limited cooperation in 2017 demonstrated Chinas continuous involvement of active cooperation can eventually lead to conflict with Chinas national interests.