Kim Jong Il Orders Military to Get Ready for Combat

[angrysoba]

Seems to me like China is trying to distance themselves from North Korea while not throwing them overboard completly.
But who does China think did it?
[Obligatory "Tommorow Never Dies" joke here].

I think they're playing dumb. There is a Russian investigation going out to South Korea though, so it will be interesting to see what happens if they agree with the first investigation.

Also here's an interesting piece by B.R Myers on how the South Koreans are really not interested in a conflict there.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/opinion/28myers.html

 

[McHrozni]

Well, as you say, the problem is whether or not they will agree that North Korea did it.

Here's Andrei Lankov who thinks the Chinese probably wouldn't agree the North did it if shown a video of the sinking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnuPeLvX0yU

Yup, the Chinese said today they didn't believe North Korea was behind the sinking. I do wonder if that could be used as a confession in a trial.

McHrozni

 

[Polaris]

China has spoken - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia_pacific/10181527.stm .

I suppose it leaves the door wide open now for both sides - SK to attack, or retaliate. NK to behave.

I took it as a veiled threat to the ROK, as from China's standpoint, right now there's more "peace" on the Peninsula than if Seoul struck back.