By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, December 12 -- Eight hours after North Korea's launch triggered closed door consultations of the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Chinese Permanent Representative Li Baodong told Inner City Press exclusively of some of the diplomatic points which had arisen.
On the substance, Li told Inner City Press "our position is, we do not think a resolution can serve the purpose... Already we have two resolution."
He told Inner City Press, "there's no agreement on the nature of the launching yet. We can have a conversation, what's the nature of this." He added, "DPRK this time has shown some degree of transparency. They are going to delay, they have problems, they recognize they have problems."
On the process and atmosphere inside the Security Council, Li Baodong Inner City Press that US Ambassador Rice "used very aggressive language... I told her, I cannot accept that kind of language. You can disagree with my position, but you cannot use that kind of language."
Li Baodong said, "I was representing my government... It went too far. I had to make that response. You have to show respect."
Referring to the "elements to the press" that were ultimately issued on Wednesday, Li said "later on, she shows up with compromise." But will that now be all that the West gets?
Later on Wednesday, Inner City Press spoke with Japan's Permanent Representative Nishida. He expressed frustration at the current make-up of the Council, even asked -- in jest, one must assume -- the Press to "talk with Baodong."
These are big issues, but individual personalities negotiate them. What was served by the run-in between Susan Rice and Li Baodong on Wednesday? We'll see.
On the difference, ignored by many, between a UNSC Press Statement and mere "elements to the press," it has been reliably explained to Inner City Press that unlike a Press Statement, elements to the press (1) do not go on the UNSC's web site, (2) are not translated, and (3) are not circulated. They are significantly weaker, an active Security Council expert exclusively detailed to inner City Press. Watch this site.
