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Capitol Hill Briefing

The China Factor: Persuading Beijing to Get Tough with North Korea

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Date and Time
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Location
B-338 Rayburn House Office Building
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Featuring
Featuring Ted Galen Carpenter, Vice President for Defense and Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute; and Doug Bandow, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute.

Although North Korea has recently made some minor conciliatory gestures, there is little indication that Pyongyang intends to give up its destabilizing nuclear and missile programs. What can be done? War is not an acceptable option, increased sanctions seem unlikely to work, and so far diplomacy has proved ineffective. Does working in closer cooperation with China offer a better option? Beijing has the most clout in Pyongyang, but remains unwilling to use its influence. Could U.S. policymakers persuade China to take a more active role, perhaps even working to oust the murderous regime of Kim Jong-il? What arguments would be most compelling for Beijing and what incentives might Washington offer to win China’s cooperation?