From ROK Drop:
8:07 PM (5 hours ago)
Chinese Move Military Force Into North Korea
from ROK Drop by GI Korea
Chinese troops have been stationed in the special economic zone of Rajin-Sonbong in North Korea, sources said Friday.
This would be the first time since Chinese troops withdrew from the Military Armistice Commission in the truce village of Panmunjom in December 1994 that they have been stationed in the North.
“Pyongyang and Beijing have reportedly discussed the matter of stationing a small number of Chinese troops in the Rajin-Sonbong region to guard port facilities China has invested in,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said. “If it’s true, they’re apparently there to protect either facilities or Chinese residents rather than for political or military reasons.”
How many of them are there is not known. The move is unusual since North Korea is constantly calling for U.S. forces to pull out of South Korea and stressing its “juche” or self-reliance doctrine.
A China-based source familiar with North Korean affairs said, “In the middle of the night around Dec. 15 last year, about 50 Chinese armored vehicles and tanks crossed the Duman (Tumen) River from Sanhe into the North Korean city of Hoeryong in North Hamgyong Province.” [Chosun Ilbo]
You can read more at the link but the composition of this force if true seems overkill for protecting a port. That is why I think the force being used as a way to help suppress an uprising is a more logical reason for move so many armored vehicles into North Korea. If any instability was to happen in North Korea it would begin in the impoverished northeastern sector of the country where these troops are conveniently stationed.
Over at the Marmot’s Hole the discussion has been about whether this Chinese force is there to protect Chinese gambling interests in Rajin-Sonbong.
Kushibo on the other hand focuses on how this news is the real story about North Korea that is being missed by the international media that rather hype the narratives of regime succession, provocations, and offers of talks. I particularly like Kushibo’s idea of using this news as propaganda to use against the Kim Jong-il regime.
This would be the first time since Chinese troops withdrew from the Military Armistice Commission in the truce village of Panmunjom in December 1994 that they have been stationed in the North.
“Pyongyang and Beijing have reportedly discussed the matter of stationing a small number of Chinese troops in the Rajin-Sonbong region to guard port facilities China has invested in,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said. “If it’s true, they’re apparently there to protect either facilities or Chinese residents rather than for political or military reasons.”
How many of them are there is not known. The move is unusual since North Korea is constantly calling for U.S. forces to pull out of South Korea and stressing its “juche” or self-reliance doctrine.
A China-based source familiar with North Korean affairs said, “In the middle of the night around Dec. 15 last year, about 50 Chinese armored vehicles and tanks crossed the Duman (Tumen) River from Sanhe into the North Korean city of Hoeryong in North Hamgyong Province.” [Chosun Ilbo]
You can read more at the link but the composition of this force if true seems overkill for protecting a port. That is why I think the force being used as a way to help suppress an uprising is a more logical reason for move so many armored vehicles into North Korea. If any instability was to happen in North Korea it would begin in the impoverished northeastern sector of the country where these troops are conveniently stationed.
Over at the Marmot’s Hole the discussion has been about whether this Chinese force is there to protect Chinese gambling interests in Rajin-Sonbong.
Kushibo on the other hand focuses on how this news is the real story about North Korea that is being missed by the international media that rather hype the narratives of regime succession, provocations, and offers of talks. I particularly like Kushibo’s idea of using this news as propaganda to use against the Kim Jong-il regime.
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