China and Russia on North Korea issue?

Question

why does'nt Russia and China do something about North Korea? They would have the most influence I think.

I'm sure both countries realize we live in a global economy and rogue country like North Korea could destroy that and it will be bad news for all the so called major industrialized countries, including them.

Answer 1

Because most of the population of North Korea are wondering how they will eat tomorrow. They live on rice mostly. The North Korean military are fed well. The people there get no real news. The media there is controlled by Kim Jong IL. If China doesn't handle him with kid gloves, millions upon millions of North Korean refugees will flood into china to find food. China is on the verge of an economic boom unlike the world has ever known. Yes, it is in their interest to disarm that dictator. They control all power going into North Korea and could pull the plug at anytime. If North Korea and South Korea merged their economic power this would be a threat not only to China but also an economic threat to Japan. With Kim Jong IL in power that is an impossibility. Though his weapons are a far larger threat to Japan, China has a relationship of convenience with North Korea and when they see fit, they will pull the plug when it will suit their needs.

Answer 2

Even if Russia wanted to do something they just simply cannot at the moment...They are still recovering (though recovering well) from their 1990s economic doldrums and their ill-advised war with the Chechens...so they will not be sending T-80Us, BMPs and Su-27s into NoKor anytime soon. Besides being officially a capitalist-democracy (ableit one with a overnationalistic/centralized posture) Russia does not have much in leverage over NoKor any more and the interest of Russia here is really more of a close observer than a real participant (though the threat of potentially hostile nukes so close to them must be a factor in Putin's discussions w/the Duma and Kremlin seniors).
China on the other hand does have the power both economic (most of Lil'Kimmy's international aid comes from/through China) and ideological (both are officially Communist, though China is really more of a centralized-capitalist country now). But when you analyze it more carefully...for China it seems that Lil'Kim is the lesser of (for them) three evils. The other two are: a massive flood of refuges streaming into China in the event of destabilization (which is why they keep propping him up even if they know he is a threat); and a USA-led war into NoKor which if successful will result in the establishment of a pro-USA unified Korea which China for various reasons will not tolerate (which is why they interevened in the first Korean war in 1950-1953).
In short these countries have their own different interests in this as against the USA, but if they dont see through these interests soon then perhaps NoKor's spectre will grow to the point beyond which even they cannot even hope to contain without tragedy and sacrifice.

Answer 3

it is more complicated than you make it sound, trade agreements and political diplomacy is a combination that ensure economic growth for China. Russia has made an effort to influence Iran, they've suggested to supply Iran with nuclear material for civilian use (power plants) and get rid of the waste themselvesl, but Iran refused , suggesting that they(Iran) have motives unclear. North-Korea is not open to such suggestions.

Answer 4

Open ur eyes! Russia and China supports eachother... and Russia will always have a communist history, so they both will support North Korea.

Answer 5

Because They are allies to North Korea....Russia and China supply NK guns, and etc...............There is a lot at stake for them