Despite tough talk, China’s North Korea options limited

Unprecedented Chinese criticism of North Korea is unlikely to mean tough new action against Pyongyang because if China pushes too hard and its troublesome neighbor collapses, the result would be disastrous for Beijing.

That limits the options for China, even as it has grown frustrated with Pyongyang since the reclusive state carried out a third nuclear test in February and ramped up the saber-rattling in response to the U.N. sanctions that followed.

Restricting or cutting off food and energy supplies as well as strictly implementing U.N. sanctions would hurt North Korea. It’s unclear whether such measures by China could lead to the downfall of the regime of young leader Kim Jong-un.

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Ben Blanchard, Reuters via CHINA US Focus http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ChinaUsFocus/~3/ja3Ee6qI_xw/