North Korean soldiers march along the North Korean side of theborder fence near Dandong, China. Ng Han Guan / AP
From Time Magazine:
In the summer of 2006, in the immediate aftermath of North Korea's unexpected long-range missile launch, the Chinese government quietly sent a senior envoy, former foreign minister Tang Jiaxuan, to Pyongyang to express Beijing's displeasure. Tang cooled his heels for a couple of days, before finally meeting — briefly, diplomatic sources have said — with leader Kim Jong Il. Just three months later, in October 2006, North Korea again defied the world and tested a nuclear bomb for the first time.
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My Comment: Even though China does have a considerable amount of influence, North Korea will still act in the "best interests" of North Korea. China's influence is no greater than Russia's or the U.S.. If there is a country that has influence .... it is South Korea. But for the moment, the South Korean's themselves are trying to assess on what their response should be.