I saw this article posted over on Thomas Ricks’ blog that shows what course of action the Korea Economic Institute was emphasizing in response to the sinking of the South Korean naval vessel:

Most of the discussion focused on prospects for economic sanctions against the North, followed up by a “you’d better not do this again”– seriously, that’s what they said. As the international community has been sanctioning Pyongyang pretty harshly since its 2007 nuclear test, most of the focus has turned to China. Which is natural — China is Kim’s single largest patron, consuming 70 percent of all of North Korea’s exports.

Sanctions have already yielded less than stellar results in Iran, who also enjoys China’s patronage, to the tune of 460,000 barrels of oil a day. Getting the Chinese to even consider increased Iranian sanctions, much less getting on board, has been a chore for the Obama administration. Asking China to join the international community in escalating sanctions on both trading partners may be just short of impossible, meaning we may be forced to choose.

China has a vested interest in maintaining stability on the Korean peninsula, and fears that harsh sanctions will lead to the North’s collapse, an influx of Korean refugees into Chinese territory, and the birth of an American ally on its border. China’s interest in stability was referenced repeatedly, especially when more hawkish options, such as covert ops to “even the score” with Kim Jong Il, were suggested.

Not to say there wasn’t a silver lining. The panel broke most moments of tension with the a reassuring declaration that, no matter what the United States or any other nation would like to do, the final decision is South Korea’s alone to make. Ultimately, when the wrong decision could result in the destruction of Seoul from North Korean artillery strikes, giving the South the final call seems like a pretty reasonable option to me, and perhaps the smartest thing I’ve heard all year.  [The Best Defense]

Pressuring the Chinese to take tougher sanctions against the North Koreans is not a viable course of action because they are not going to do anything that will threaten the continuing existence of the Kim Jong-il regime.  The pressure China option I hear over and over again and this in not a viable option and for the most part a waste of time.

I have presented before what I think should be done in response to a North Korean sinking of the Cheonan that provides a lot more retaliation against the North Koreans to prevent further incidents from happening than simply offering false options such as pressuring the Chinese.