CHINA: Two weeks after North Korea's nuclear test, Chinese border town of Dandong still reels in its aftermath

Two weeks after North Korea shocked the world by conducting a nuclear test on October 9, the Chinese border city of Dandong is still reeling from the aftermath of the actions of its unpredictable neighbour. On the surface, it is business as usual for cross-border trade as convoys of trucks ply their way across the Yalu river which separates Dandong and its North Korean counterpart Sinuiju on Monday (October 23). Chinese customs also checked incoming trucks from North Korea at the border checkpoint with no added scrutiny than before. But traders and residents alike say the fears of a second nuclear test and the escalation of tensions are still the talk of the town. Some disagree on how the international community should deal with the crisis. "With regards to North Korea's nuclear test, what the international community should focus on is to resolve this issue peacefully. As for an ordinary citizen like myself, I think the North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully through the six-party talks. I hope all the parties involved do not resort to any extreme measures. I hope that North Korea will not conduct a second nuclear test to increase the tensions" said 28-year-old Dandong resident, Han Yong. "Yes, there should be sanctions, we should not let them (North Korea) develop nuclear weapons. This is for peace. If they do not have nuclear weapons, it would be safer for us and safer for Asia. So I support the sanctions" said another resident, 68-year-old Ma Yingmei. A week of intense diplomacy has left world capitals still unsure as to whether North Korea will test a second nuclear device or return to talks following the imposition of UN sanctions. News reports had raised hopes that tension was easing after North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was quoted as telling Chinese envoy Tang Jiaxuan that he planned no further tests following the detonation of a device on October 9 that shocked the world. The Japanese news agency Kyodo said on Sunday that Kim had expressed his intention of honouring a 1992 declaration for the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula during talks with Tang, saying it was a "dying instruction" of his father -- the country's late leader, Kim Il Sung. But U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, heading home after a whirlwind tour of Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing and Moscow, cast doubt on the report, saying Pyongyang was bent on escalating the crisis. South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper quoted an unidentified diplomatic source in Beijing as saying Kim had told the former Chinese foreign minister that Pyongyang would resume the six-country talks if Washington ended its financial sanctions. But Rice said these curbs would remain and she questioned their commitment to resuming talks. North Korea has boycotted the six-country talks, which bring together the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, Russia and China, because of Washington's financial restrictions. Russia was the last stop on Rice's five-day trip to rally support for UN economic and weapons sanctions, imposed a week ago to punish Pyongyang for its underground test. But Rice won few commitments from China and South Korea on implementing sanctions on their impoverished neighbour. China is seen as having the greatest potential leverage but fears instability and a potential wave of refugees should sanctions prompt North Korea's collapse. Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency said on Saturday that U.S. pressure for sanctions, backed by Japan and South Korea, was aimed at suffocating the country. Meanwhile, Australia is ready to send one of its warships to help enforce UN sanctions against North Korea in response to its recent nuclear test, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said on Monday (October 23). Nelson told Australian television it was possible a navy ship would join international efforts to search vessels going in and out of North Korean waters to ensure they did not carry weapons material.

ITN Source | October 23, 2006

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