China, North Korea's only remaining major ally, needs to put pressure on one of the world's most repressive regimes to stop its aggressive behavior, a U.S. scholar said Wednesday.
"Beijing needs to know that and find ways to convey their displeasure to North Korea about its actions," said John Ikenberry, a professor of politics and international affairs at Princeton University.
North Korea on Tuesday fired a barrage of artillery rounds toward Yeonpyeong Island near the tense Yellow Sea border, killing two South Korean marines and leaving at least 13 others wounded.
The attack took place as Stephen Bosworth, the top U.S. envoy on North Korea, was to travel to Beijing later in the day after meeting with South
Korean and Japanese officials earlier this week in an aim to discuss North Korea's denuclearization.
Ikenberry, a prominent theorist of international relations and U.S. foreign policy, said the Chinese government's response toward North Korea's deadly artillery attack on South Korea was disappointing, but also understandable.
"They do not have control over the actions of North Korea, and they fear a regime collapse. So they put up to the North's crazy behavior. This is a pity because they are the ones who need to work for stability and the return of talks," he said in an e-mail interview with Yonhap News Agency.
The scholar stressed that China has to realize North Korea's provocative actions such as Tuesday's will also have a negative impact on itself.
"China and the U.S. actually have some long-term interests in common. But China needs to know that a belligerent North Korea will provoke reactions from Seoul and Washington that will impinge on China as well as North Korea," he said.
"It is inevitable that growing conflict between South Korea -- and the U.S. -- and North Korea will hurt U.S.-Chinese relations. Beijing needs to know that and find ways to convey their displeasure to North Korea about its actions."
Ikenberry added that it is the weakness and insecurity of the North Korean regime that is driving the aggravating behavior.
"The regime leaders are no doubt using their belligerent behavior has a way to show strength to their people," he said.
"We don't know what sort of problems Kim Jong-il and his son are having with the military and the other factions," the scholar said. "One suspects they feel insecurity and worried about the succession. The military is critical for the perpetuation of the regime, so these actions are at least consistent with courting their support."