China Not Invited to North Korea’s 70th Anniversary Event
China probably is not being invited to this big North Korean anniversary because of the criticism their government has given towards the prospect of a North Korean nuclear test or rocket launch next month:
China is not among nations invited to attend North Korea’s key national anniversary next month, a diplomatic source said Monday, reflecting strained political ties between the allies.
North Korea has indicated that it may launch a long-range rocket on or around Oct. 10 to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of its Workers’ Party. Any launch will spark international condemnation as a disguised ballistic missile test, which is banned under U.N. resolutions.
North Korea sent invitations to some nations in Africa and South America, but China, the North’s economic lifeline and diplomatic backer, has not been invited to attend the Oct. 10 ceremony, the source said on the condition of anonymity.
“To my knowledge, China has not been invited to take part in the Oct. 10 ceremony,” the source said. [Yonhap]
You can read the rest at the link.
A new Player in the Great Game (Asia Edition)?
http://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/india-and-the-hermit-kingdom-an-unlikely-love-affair/61400
India wants to be a bit of a counterbalance to China, and North Korea doesn’t want to cooperate with China any more. India is keeping things small, so as not to upset South Korea or Japan, but this is a different approach than usual.
Or, maybe North Korea will play India like they did Fiat and Lloyds of London? North Korea is such a scam artist of a country, you never know exactly what they will do, just that it won’t be anything they agreed to do.