North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is taking advantage of Beijing's desire for stability on the Korean peninsula by engaging in provocative actions that could permanently alter the north-east Asian security situation. Mr Kim's moves are calculated – they are designed to help secure a dynastic succession and North Korea's status as a nuclear weapons power. Fearful of a flood of refugees should Mr Kim's regime implode, China has responded cautiously. Beijing apparently still believes that its national interests are best served by a weak North Korean regime that is dependent on China.
朝鮮領導人金正日(Kim Jong-il)正利用中國渴望朝鮮半島穩定的心態，從事一系列可能永久改變東北亞安全局勢的挑釁行動。金正日的舉動經過精心策劃——旨在確保王朝的傳承和朝鮮獲得核武國家的地位。由于擔心金正日政權垮臺后會有大量難民涌入，中國的回應一直非常謹慎。中國政府顯然仍然相信，一個依賴于中國的軟弱的朝鮮政權最符合其國家利益。