There is said to be a growing level of disappointment at the conduct of North Korea within the Chinese leadership following North Korea’s 3rd “2.12” nuclear test.

A senior South Korean government official explained to reporters on the 3rd, “China did all these exchanges with North Korea and hoped that they would make a genuine effort at economic development through reform and opening, but they just went for the missile launch and nuclear test, dashing Chinese hopes. Their disappointment was not insignificant.”

Following both the most recent missile launch and nuclear test, China circulated a memo internally telling departments and agencies to rigidly enforce UN Security Council resolutions 2087 and 2094, even in provincial areas. It was a marked difference of action when compared to prior occasions, the official claimed.

Meanwhile, on the possibility of a high-level Chinese visit to North Korea, which has been rumored of late, he went on, “There were predictions that it would happen this weekend, but it seems unlikely.” He explained that big bilateral talks don’t often occur when China is keen to display its aggravation at Pyongyang’s conduct.

Internationally, however, he said there is broad agreement. “South Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia have all agree that North Korea must take meaningful steps on denuclearization. It will take some time for concrete progress to come about.”