“North Korea wanted to engage directly with the United States and was therefore acting like a ‘spoiled child’ in order to get the attention of the ‘adult,’” noted Chinese Vice Foreign Minster He Yafei, according to a cable leaked by whistleblower website WikiLeaks earlier this week.

The possible reasons as to why North Korea’s behavior towards the United States could warrant such a claim are many. What is becoming obvious is that mainland China has started to feel the strain of being allied with a neighboring country which has acted impulsively and without direction in the first decade of the new century. There are other documents released by WikiLeaks that candidly described some of the less-than-laudatory opinions of North Korea from Chinese, South Korean, and American perspectives: most newsworthy, of course, is the revelation that China desires the reunification of the Korean peninsula.

It seems amusing that the Chinese government would see North Korea as a child under their care. If so, they have been nurturing a very dangerous and volatile kid. One with an arsenal of artillery shells. And according to new reports, perhaps more.

(Above: S. Korean citizens gaze at smoke from N. Korean artillery fire on Yeonpyong on Nov. 25; image via)

With North Korea’s recent combustible activity on the peninsula, it would appear that the Chinese government is weary of the threat of an unrestrained nuclear power, if North Korea does indeed achieve nuclear armament capabilities. This is becoming an increasingly real threat: American scientist Siegfried Hecker, who visited North Korea in mid-November, was surprised by the advanced nuclear facility he was allowed to visit. He noted that North Korea was implicitly spelling a warning: “Look, don’t underestimate us. We’re not about to come to our knees.’”

North Korea, of course, attacked South Korea a few days later. With such an aggressive and devious government, managing to conceal its technological advancement to nuclear power, perhaps it is wise that China reconsider its position with the North Koreans. China, as an expected monitor of relations on the Korean peninsula, finds itself in a difficult diplomatic position. The North Korean government seems to lack rationale these days.

One must remain cautious about China abandoning its ally. Who knows how the North Korean government will react, especially when they are threatening all-out war with South Korea.

Plus, it doesn’t help that Kim Jong-il loves to drink.

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