Security Council waits to see where China's divided loyalties are stronger

As South Korea turns to the UN Security Council for redress, all eyes are on its permanent, veto-holding member state, China.

NEW YORK // The latest allegation to bolster North Korea's reputation as an international pariah has presented Security Council members with a problem: how does the UN body tackle a repeat offender that shows only defiance in the face of sanctions, diplomacy and threats? The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, a South Korean, described investigators' findings that a North Korean submarine was responsible for the sinking of a South Korean warship on March 26 as "deeply troubling". His spokesman, Martin Nesirky, said the world body will "monitor developments" and that he anticipated further reaction from Seoul in coming days.

The South Korean president, Lee Myung-bak, has called for "resolute countermeasures" following the sinking of the Cheonan and the deaths of 46 seamen, and the Japanese prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, has already voiced support for Seoul's anticipated request for a new Security Council resolution. Diplomats from Security Council members said the ship-sinking allegations were not on the agenda before they went into closed-door negotiations in the Manhattan-based chamber yesterday morning, and it remains unclear where discussions will lead.

Despite similar rebukes from the United States, Britain and other western countries, the big powers are uncertain of what action to take against Pyongyang, which has been censured many times already. As one commentator put it, the international community is "out of ammo". Last June, the 15-nation body tightened the screws on North Korea in response to its nuclear test the previous month - a unanimously-adopted resolution that toughened a pre-existing arms embargo and called on UN members to search suspect cargo.

The outcome of negotiations rests with China - the regional heavyweight and one of five permanent, veto-wielding members of the Security Council - which has avoided criticism and appealed for restraint in response to South Korea's probe. "The UN Security Council is not likely to act quickly, both in terms of reviewing and evaluating the Cheonan report, as well as crafting a legally and diplomatically appropriate response," said John Delury, a regional expert from the New York-based Asia Society.

"All eyes are on China, as North Korea's only ally among the veto-wielding members. "Beijing is on the hot seat, as it values its relationships with Washington and Seoul, who will press for unequivocal action - ideally another sanctions resolution - from the Security Council. China is likely to try to slow things down, and look for a way to minimise the fallout." Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman, lauded an "objective and scientific review" while denouncing the North's "unacceptable behaviour and defiance of international law".

The Britishs foreign secretary William Hague condemned a "total indifference to human life". The Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd, blasted a "flagrant violation" of the UN Charter and the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement. Pyongyang dismissed allegations as "sheer fabrication". Beijing, however, avoided criticising Pyongyang, with the foreign ministry spokesman, Ma Zhaoxu, urging North and South Korea to "stay calm and exercise restraint".

China is perhaps the only country able to influence Kim Jong-il's hermit nation, and hosted the dictator during a covert visit this month. China provides North Korea with food and energy, and fears punitive measures against its impoverished neighbour could prompt the collapse of its hard-line regime and possibly millions of starving refugees on its doorstep, experts say. The US-led push for a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its uranium enrichment programme has dominated the Security Council over recent months, and Washington has expended much energy and diplomatic favour persuading the sceptics, Russia and China, to embrace new curbs.

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