China, The Key To Tab Against North Korea Provocations: U.S Military

By ETHAN Markoff

CHINA NEWS - China can play a pivotal role to put restrain against provocative behavior of North Korea, the top U.S military official said Wednesday.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in an interview that in a recent crisis of war between North and South Korea, China could play the key role to stop the behavior of North Korea. He further emphasis on role of China to influence North Korea to stop provocative actions.

China, Mullen said, has much at stake in stopping North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il from taking more provocative actions.

The United States is hoping China would impose or strict its economic support and trade with North Korea to exercise influence to tame the provocative actions of North Korea.

It is reported that President Obama will call Chinese President Hu Jintao in the next few days to discuss the issue over North Korea.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Tuesday that China would play a key role in moving North Korea in a different direction. The economic and trade influence could restrain North Korea to a greater degree, U.S is now hoping China to influence North Korea to reduce tensions that have risen from North Korean provocations and then secondarily to put pressure on nation to stop nuclear enrichment possibilities.

China still to condemn its neighbor for sudden attack on Korean border, however, maintaining a diplomatic pressure by emphasis on talks with Pyongyang.

After North Korea attack on South Korea, China strongly urged both sides to maintain peace and restrain, and forces them to engage in talks as quickly as possible in order to prevent similar incidents in future.

In the meanwhile President Obama has declared a joint exercise with South Korea against North Korea.