It appears likely that China will not support any sanctions against North Korea if they go ahead with their suspected missile launch next month:

China’s chief of general staff met with his South Korean counterpart in Seoul on Wednesday as their governments struggle to defuse tension over North Korea’s planned rocket launch.

The visit by General Chen Bingde, Chief of Staff of the People’s Liberation Army, comes as North Korea gears up to launch what it claims to be a rocket carrying a communications satellite.

Neighbors believe the launch, expected between April 4-8, will serve as a chance for North Korea to test its ballistic missile technology. They say the rocket being prepared on the North’s east coast could be a Taepodong-2 missile capable of reaching Alaska.

A defense official in Seoul said earlier in the day that South Korea plans to reiterate to the Chinese delegation its opposition to the rocket launch. China is North Korea’s foremost benefactor, hosting six-nation talks aimed at denuclearizing Pyongyang in exchange for compensation.

“We plan to relay to the Chinese delegation our demand that North Korea heed international warnings and halt its preparations for the launch,” the official said, speaking on customary condition of anonymity.

Beijing has recently called on Pyongyang to refrain from a missile test because such a move could drastically raise regional tensions.

But China has also suggested that it will remain cautious in joining international efforts to slap sanctions on North Korea should Pyongyang turn out to have indeed prepared a satellite launch.  [Yonhap]

So basically all North Korea needs to do is slap something on its missile and call it a satellite and China would be cool with it.

I wish someone would ask this visiting Chinese General how China would react if Japan fired a missile over their territory and called it a satellite launch?