The Militant - October 6, 2003 -- Beiing deploys troops along north Korea border

Vol. 67/No. 34 October 6, 2003

Beiing deploys troops
along north Korea border

BY PATRICK O’NEILL
The Chinese government has stationed substantial forces along its 870-mile border with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Carried out in early September, the move came as Beijing increased pressure on the DPRK to halt its development of nuclear weapons. At the same time, Pyongyang has protested Washington’s arms build-up in south Korea, including its installation of the latest Patriot missiles. Such moves are “creating a stumbling block to resolving the nuclear problem,” stated the Korean Central News Agency. Some 37,000 U.S. troops are stationed in the south.

The Chinese foreign ministry announced the border deployment September 15, saying its troops had taken over patrols from the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force. Some 300,000 Chinese troops are based in the provinces closest to north Korea, along with 250,000 members of the Armed Police Force.

The moves came shortly after the August 27-29 six-party talks in Beijing. Representatives from the governments of the United States, Japan, China, Russia, and south Korea attempted to pressure Pyongyang there to drop development of a nuclear defense. While saying it was ready for talks, Pyongyang refused to take steps toward disarmament demanded by Washington. Beijing appears to be concerned itself—Washington’s interests aside—with the prospect of its neighbor becoming a nuclear power. After the talks, Chinese deputy foreign minister Wang Yi said that “the differences between north Korea and China are comprehensive.”

In late February Beijing closed an oil pipeline to the DPRK for three days. According to the Korea Times, China supplies 70 percent of north Korea’s energy needs and 40 percent of its food.

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