Kenneth Glad
The meeting showed how old alliances are being tested by newer pressures. Public ceremony masked a more practical struggle for influence.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s two-day visit to Pyongyang signaled Beijing’s effort to keep North Korea within its orbit as Kim Jong Un builds closer ties with Russia.
Reuters reports that Xi pledged continued support for Kim and called for deeper cooperation in security, trade, diplomacy, agriculture and technology.
According to the BBC, no concrete agreements were announced. Even so, Kim said Xi’s decision to choose Pyongyang for his first state visit of the year showed the “utmost importance” China places on the relationship.
China still has reasons to stay close
North Korea remains crucial to China’s regional strategy. Analysts often describe it as a buffer between China and U.S.-allied South Korea, as well as a pressure point in Beijing’s rivalry with Washington.
Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said, writes Reuters: “The Xi-Kim summit is a reminder that Beijing still sees Pyongyang as a strategic asset.”
The visit also followed renewed North Korea-Russia cooperation, which may give Kim more diplomatic space than he had before.
The welcome carried political weight
Kim greeted Xi with a red carpet, a guard of honor, flowers from children and a 21-gun salute. The BBC wrote that the reception also included acrobatic performances.
At a banquet, Xi said China and North Korea are “linked by mountains and rivers and share a common destiny.”
Kim reaffirmed support for Beijing’s “One China” principle.
The leaders also marked the 65th anniversary of their defense pact, China’s only formal defense treaty currently in force.
Nuclear questions were left aside
Public state media summaries did not emphasize denuclearization. That silence reflects a wider shift, as China has become less publicly forceful on North Korea’s nuclear program.
Before Xi arrived, Pyongyang showed plans for a 10,000-ton naval destroyer and again underlined its nuclear status. SIPRI estimates North Korea has about 60 nuclear warheads.
Xi and Kim visited the Friendship Tower and planted a fir tree to symbolize lasting ties.
BBC noted analyst concern that China may remain frustrated by North Korea’s refusal to follow its development model.
Sources: BBC, Reuters
