South Korea is seen as a U.S. ally and would not be seen as a neutral nation in the eyes of many of the countries in the world.

Well, it has been the US desire all along to say if the North Koreans aren't serious, we need to take this (dispute) to the UN Security Council but it is the others who have blocked it.

The North Koreans always like to do something to upstage the South.

If there is a productive result coming out of the Security Council with Iran, I think that will increase the attractiveness of looking to the Security Council as a potential solution for North Korea and, at least, it will hopefully remove some of the Korean and Chinese objections to it.

A real breakthrough still remains possible if the other five parties can avoid being distracted by the light-water reactor issue and insist with one voice that Pyongyang start charting a clear path towards accomplishing agreed objectives.

It's been a longstanding relationship and the Chinese attach a great deal of importance to it. Pakistan's been a good client, a good purchaser of Chinese goods.