China supports North Korea. China and North Korea: a tangled partnership. Different and common in the culture of South and North Korea

Lankov

And now relations between China and the DPRK are ambiguous. On the one hand, the existence of a North Korean state is beneficial to China, since North Korea forms a geostrategic buffer near the Chinese borders. In addition, the crisis in North Korea will have negative consequences for China, which does not want to deal with the flow of refugees, much less the problems that could be caused by the loss of control over North Korean chemical or nuclear weapons. In addition, the unification of Korea is contrary to the interests of Beijing - no matter what Chinese diplomats say about this. So China has reasons to keep North Korea afloat.

On the other hand, China has reason to be dissatisfied with many aspects of North Korean policy. Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions cause particular irritation in Beijing. This discontent seems to have intensified in the last six months. A number of recent events make one suspect that relations between Beijing and Pyongyang have entered a period of yet another crisis.

The first sign of trouble was the scandal surrounding the failed investments of a large Chinese company, Xiyan. She invested about $50 million in the construction of a mine in North Korea, after which the mine was seized by the North Korean side. Similar situations have arisen before, but this time the injured Chinese side spoke openly about the conflict.

In August 2012, Jang Song-thaek, Kim Jong-un's closest adviser, arrived in China. He hoped to receive additional economic assistance, but returned empty-handed.

In January 2013, China supported UN Security Council resolutions condemning the North Korean missile launch. This decision by China came as a surprise to most observers.

Finally, at the end of January, the Chinese newspaper Huanqiu Shibao stated that if North Korea conducts a nuclear test, China will reduce the scale of assistance to the DPRK. This statement is difficult to ignore, because this newspaper is part of the People's Daily holding company, that is, it is subordinate to the official body of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Of course, the DPRK government does not listen too much to the opinions of its allies, including China. However, it is now becoming increasingly difficult to ignore unequivocal warnings from Beijing - North Korea’s economic dependence on Chinese aid and trade with China is too great. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that Chinese pressure partially achieved its goal and forced the North Korean government to either postpone or cancel nuclear tests.

This is certainly good news. However, it should be remembered: Beijing has no intention of driving North Korea into a corner, much less trying to provoke a serious crisis there. Therefore, most likely, China will continue to keep North Korea afloat, only occasionally expressing its dissatisfaction with certain actions of Pyongyang.

Secondly, China needs to receive from North Korea some economic guarantees of capacity, which is only possible through the DPRK’s systemic assimilation of the experience of Chinese reforms. In this case, China could hypothetically turn a blind eye to the North Korean nuclear program, organically integrating it into its own US “containment” policy.

The emerging realities are completely different. The DPRK is in no hurry to apply the Chinese experience, concentrating all the forces and resources of the nation on the development of its nuclear program. For many North Koreans, the Korean atomic bomb is perhaps a kind of “national idea”, and the only defensive weapon against America and other enemies, and at the same time an explanation understandable to millions: “why we live so poorly.”

At the same time, Pyongyang demands from Beijing an expansion of credit, food, energy and other assistance. China has always supported a regime ideologically close to it, sometimes saving it from a mortal threat (Korean War 1950-1953). He did not leave the DPRK even after establishing diplomatic relations with South Korea (August 24, 1992), although this caused a storm of indignation and accusations of betrayal in the north of the Korean Peninsula.

Currently, in Zhongnanhai (the so-called “Chinese Kremlin”), they note with growing irritation Pyongyang’s persistent reluctance to build socialism according to the Chinese model. Moreover, if in the late 1990s and early 2000s many PRC scientists wrote about the “ease and speed” of implementing this project, pointing to the already proven experience of open zones of the PRC, the possibility of using Chinese financial and human resources, today the tone of publications has changed dramatically . Many experts do not believe at all in Korean modernization according to the Chinese version; they believe that North Korea is “turning into a burden” on China’s path “to a great regional and world power.”

It is possible that one of the reasons for the unsuccessful visit to China on August 13, 2012 by the deputy chairman of the State Defense Committee of the DPRK, the closest adviser to the young leader Kim Jong-un, Jang Song Thaek, was precisely the dissatisfaction of the Chinese leaders caused by such “stubbornness” of the North Koreans. The envoy was unable to convince Hu Jintao of the need for the young leader to visit the PRC before the 18th Congress. Apparently, Jang Song Thaek also failed to obtain a new preferential loan of several billion dollars.

According to South Korean media reports, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Wen Jiabao presented the Korean representative with certain Chinese claims related to the facts of Pyongyang's infringement of Chinese business, in particular the Xiyan Group mining company. According to sources in Seoul, the North Koreans were given five conditions, without which there can be no talk of further cooperation - the adoption of appropriate laws to regulate foreign business, the fight against corruption, the abolition of the practice of introducing new taxes for investors, and assistance from the authorities , reorganization of customs.

It is obvious that the new leadership of China will have to meet with Kim Jong-un and “forget” temporary differences. Protocol and broader regional and global security concerns require this. If Xi Jinping eventually managed to somehow return the DPRK to the table of six-party talks and resume the work of the “six,” this would become a strong “trump card” for the new Chinese leader in his further regional and global “game” with the United States and its allies.

And a little more Lankov to the heap
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It's time to admit the obvious: sanctions have little impact on North Korea. The problem is that very few people outside of a narrow circle of experts understand this fact. But the introduction of new sanctions allows both diplomats and parliamentarians to demonstrate to voters that they are responding to the threat posed by the DPRK.

The first international sanctions regime against North Korea was introduced after the first nuclear test, which took place in 2006. During the seven years of this regime, Pyongyang attempted to launch an artificial Earth satellite three times, the last attempt being successful, and also conducted another nuclear test. At the same time, it cannot be said that the DPRK achieved these successes at the cost of tightening its belts. On the contrary, the period 2006-2012, that is, the period of sanctions, was also a time of moderate, but quite noticeable growth of the DPRK economy.

An analysis of these circumstances forced experts to conclude that the sanctions do not have a noticeable impact on North Korea. There are several reasons for this.

Firstly, in the case of North Korea, the usual sanctions mechanism for the rest of the world does not work. As a rule, it is not the top management who suffer from them, but the population as a whole, including a significant part of the elite. As a result, both the population and the elite are beginning to demand that the government abandon the political decisions that led to the imposition of sanctions.

This model worked in Yugoslavia and South Africa. It can also work in Iran, with all the uniqueness of its political regime. However, in North Korea this policy has little chance of success. The population of North Korea has no ability to put pressure on their government's policies. North Koreans do not vote - or rather, they vote once every five years in official elections, in which a single candidate always receives 100% of all votes. The likelihood of a rebellion or coup in Korea is also negligible.

The introduction of sanctions could lead to the fact that a significant part of the DPRK population will find themselves in a truly distressed situation - perhaps even starving, but this situation will not have any impact on the North Korean government. As the experience of the last 20 years has shown, no amount of suffering by the population can force Pyongyang to make concessions on issues that it considers a priority.

Secondly, the financial sanctions regime will most likely not receive real support from China, which is North Korea's main trading partner. Chinese banks will find ways to circumvent restrictions. The volume of North Korean foreign trade is very small, so in many cases payments can be made in cash. One can imagine North Korean officials traveling to China with suitcases stuffed with hundred-dollar bills.

There are so many problems, questions and mysteries in the political world that it is almost impossible to find all the answers. Every day we watch the news, we are taught history in schools, we hear the latest gossip from different corners. Information policy is truly a terrible force! But how does it affect relations between countries? Take Asian countries, for example. What is the relationship between and China? Are North Korea and China really the same thing?

Background

As you know, China is one of the most powerful countries in the world. It is quite natural that North Korea would want to focus all its efforts on cooperation first with China. Thus, since the 2000s, the DPRK has prioritized cooperation with the Republic of China.

This desire to become an ally of China was due to some of the difficulties that North Korea experienced when the United States came to power. And since the United States was an ally of the DPRK’s main enemy, South Korea, this seriously complicated the situation.

As a result of official and informal meetings between representatives of the DPRK and China, the countries have become not only good allies, but also economic partners, which is beneficial for both sides.

North Korea

In order to analyze the connection between two famous countries, it is necessary to understand what they are. Let's start with North Korea.

Everyone knows this country as isolated, untrustworthy and even fearful. This is due to the reluctance of the DPRK to contact other states. They have a completely different world, built on their own principles, laws and traditions. And, as noted by those who managed to get into this mysterious country, some laws and customs are quite surprising.

Just take the fact that they don’t use computers there, residents don’t have the Internet, and at the airport their phones are taken away from foreigners.

They do not have hunger or poverty as such. Yes, the situation in these areas is not ideal, but it does not reach a critical level. As it should be, according to the authorities, everything is relatively stable with this.

China and North Korea are completely different countries. Exactly what their differences are will become clear when we move on to China.

China

A powerful, huge, promising and incredible country is China. Connections around the world, trade and economy have risen to the highest level. Truly an amazing country.

It is quite natural that North Korea would want to cooperate with a giant country. Moreover, “giant” in this context is not about territory at all. A weak and closed country from which people dream of escaping, although some do not even know what it is like to exist in the ordinary world. This is the reputation the DPRK has earned for itself.

It is very profitable to build relations with China, because if problems arise, authority and power will suppress all misunderstandings.

Sino-North Korean relations

How were relations between China and the DPRK established? What is the difference between these two states and other countries in the world?

The fact is that in 1950, when the Korean War broke out, the Republic of China took the side of the DPRK. Soon, in 1951, they concluded an agreement on cooperation and friendship between the countries. China, in turn, promised to provide everything if necessary.

This agreement was extended twice - in 1981 and in 2001, so important were these relations for both countries. To date, the contract has been concluded until 2021.

However, we should not forget about the six-party negotiations on the settlement of North Korea’s nuclear program. China is directly involved in these negotiations. This did not interfere with diplomatic relations between the PRC and the DPRK, so in 2009 they celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their friendship. This year has been called the year of diplomatic relations between China and North Korea.

But we will not end such a touching story on a positive note. Already in 2013, the Chinese Foreign Minister made a statement that the PRC was opposed to the latest nuclear operation carried out by Korea. Which, in fact, was reported personally to the North Korean ambassador. So, on May 5 of the same year, the DPRK captured a Chinese fishing vessel. They demanded about 100 thousand US dollars as ransom. Why not diplomatic relations?

Border

The PRC and the DPRK are separated by a 1,416-kilometer border. It practically corresponds to the flow of two rivers - the Tumannaya and Yalu Rivers. Before 2003, countries had as many as six border crossings. Since November 2003, border units have been replaced by army ones.

The border between China and the DPRK has a 20-kilometer fence, which was built in the PRC. And in February 1997, it was decided to allow tourists to cross the bridge, which was located on the border. This greatly increased the number of applicants - literally from 1,000 tourists to 100,000 in a year. This naturally influenced the construction of a bridge that connects North Korea and China in the cities of Mapo and Jian.

Territorial dispute

In 1963, Beijing and Pyongyang reached an agreement on border demarcation. Even during the existence of the Soviet Union, the PRC tried with all its might to break out of international isolation. Moreover, China wanted to take over the Kim Il Sung regime so much that some provinces even began to protest certain actions of the Chinese government.

In “gratitude” for the assistance that China provided to the DPRK during the Korean War, the Chinese government demanded 160 square kilometers of land around Paektusan from North Korea. In 1968-1969, clashes between Koreans and Chinese occurred more than once against the backdrop of these events. But already in 1970, China abandoned all claims and misunderstandings in order to improve diplomatic relations with North Korea.

Economic relations

There are some very interesting statistics here. While for North Korea China is the largest supplier and representative in economic relations, in the PRC North Korea ranks only 82nd. It is also worth noting that China supplies almost half of the DPRK, and a quarter is exported. This is not surprising; such a huge and powerful country as China has much larger economic prospects than the small country of the Korean Peninsula.

What does North Korea import from China?

• Mineral fuel.
• Oil (China is the largest oil supplier to the DPRK).
• Vehicles.
• Cars.
• Plastic.
• Iron.
• Steel.

Military relations

As already stated, China has been a partner of North Korea for more than 60 years. The DPRK has found a very good and profitable partner.

It is also natural that with such a long cooperation, China was obliged to help Korea in the war. Yes, the Republic of China lost about 400,000 of its soldiers, many of whom were wounded, missing in action, or died from wounds or disease.

We can say that this is the price of such long friendly relations between countries. The DPRK and the People's Republic of China were tightly linked by the blood of dead soldiers. Even if the relationship ends, which is unlikely to happen given that both countries are happy with everything, everyone will remember and honor those who protected the people in the Korean War.

This is the military relationship between China and the DPRK. Only the Korean War played a major role.

Visits

Many today are perplexed as to how China managed to ensure that the President of the DPRK traveled outside his country for the first time (since 2011). He personally came on an unofficial visit to the PRC. Negotiations took place where Kim Jong-un congratulated the Chinese President on his re-election and discussed the situation with

“We wish to cooperate with our comrades from the DPRK to maintain our commitment to the future and move forward together, so that we can promote long-term and healthy relations between countries and achieve benefits for our countries and our people, and lay the foundation for peace, stability and development region," Xi Jinping said.

Relationships today

Unexpectedly, since 2017, one can note a strange, somewhat chilled atmosphere in relations between China and the DPRK. This is primarily due to the fact that the PRC began to establish contacts with South Korea. More than once, some kind of relationship between Seoul and Beijing has been noticed.

However, it is not for nothing that Beijing has become colder towards Pyongyang. China was initially against all nuclear tests carried out in North Korea. But the ally did not take this seriously, and already in September 2017, another experiment with nuclear weapons was carried out.

China reacted very negatively to this, and its position became much tougher. An appeal was sent to the UN with a request to solve or at least influence the problem. Donald Trump resolutely stated that the DPRK shows clear disrespect for the opinion of the international community and ignores requests, advice and even threats.

Relations between China and the DPRK at the global level have currently reached their climax. Will this issue be resolved peacefully?

Despite all this, China and North Korea continue to maintain diplomatic relations in a state of relative calm and order, which is why the United States even allowed itself to express itself in the direction of the PRC in this way: “China has succumbed.” Is this really so - a complex and multilateral question, because it was China that initiated the UN meeting because of the dangerous experiments that were carried out in the DPRK.

These are the events happening now in Asian countries. As we can see, China and North Korea are an example of truly long-lasting diplomatic relations. And not only in diplomacy, but also in the economic sphere too. We can say that the DPRK depends on Chinese supplies, and to a fairly high degree.

What will happen in 2021 when the friendship treaty ends? Will it be extended or will this be the end of such a long relationship of the 21st century between China and the DPRK? The forecasts are generally positive, but who knows how the world of politics will turn out. Perhaps North Korea's stubbornness about nuclear experiments will end this friendship?

） 14:33.20/06/2018

June 20, People's Daily online -- On June 19, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Supreme Leader of the DPRK Kim Jong-un held talks. In less than three months, the two leaders met three times and exchanged views on Sino-North Korean relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The meeting was a milestone in the transfer and development of traditional friendship between the two countries, strengthening strategic cooperation and ties, pointed the direction for further promotion of inter-party and inter-state relations, and opened a new page in the development of ties between China and the DPRK.

The world and the Asia-Pacific region are currently experiencing profound new changes. Parties interested in the situation on the Korean Peninsula began encouraging but difficult communication. A new historical direction has appeared in the internal development program of China and the DPRK. In accordance with the high-level contacts between the PRC and the DPRK for several months, and based on the developments of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, no matter how the international and regional situation changes, China will always attach great importance to friendly and cooperative relations with the DPRK , Beijing's position will not change.

The CPC and the Chinese government's firm commitment to making efforts to strengthen the development of bilateral relations will not change. High-level contacts have historically played the most important guiding and stimulating role in the development of bilateral relations. The Chinese side makes full use of the traditional method of strategic communication. Recently, the PRC and the DPRK have maintained frequent high-level contacts between governments and Parties, strengthening strategic cooperation, deepening understanding and trust.

The friendly attitude of the Chinese people towards the people of the DPRK will not change. Traditional friendship between countries is a common wealth. The Chinese side is making efforts to strengthen the people's base of interstate friendship, strengthening the people's friendship base is an important way to promote the development of relations between the People's Republic of China and the DPRK. The PRC encourages the strengthening of bilateral people's contacts through various forms and models, with the aim of creating a good people's base for the development of bilateral relations and continuing and spreading the good tradition of friendship between the PRC and the DPRK.

China's support for socialism in the DPRK will not change. The PRC and the DPRK are socialist countries, and bilateral relations are of great strategic importance. China supports the DPRK to follow a path that suits the country's internal realities. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the implementation of reform and opening up in China. The PRC is following a development path that suits the situation in the country; socialism with Chinese characteristics has already entered a new era. The DPRK made an important decision by refocusing its work on economic construction; the cause of socialism in the DPRK has already entered a new historical period. Pyongyang's desire to achieve political stability, economic development, and to achieve happiness for the people not only meets the expectations of the DPRK itself, but also pleases China as a close neighbor. The PRC needs to do its best to support the concentration of North Korean forces to develop the economy and improve the well-being in the country.

Thanks to the efforts of various parties, the dialogue on the issue of the Korean Peninsula has once again taken the right path of a consultative resolution. The situation in the region is moving towards peace and stability. The Chinese side constantly views the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the nuclear issue from the standpoint of preserving China-North American relations, protecting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, maintaining the international system of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and protecting the strategic security interests of the PRC. The DPRK and the Republic of Korea have resumed high-level bilateral contacts, the DPRK and the United States have reached agreements in principle to implement the denuclearization of the peninsula and build a mechanism for lasting peace in the region. China appreciates these positive results. It is obvious that it takes time to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, and various complex factors may become an obstacle in this process. The situation on the Korean Peninsula concerns the interests of different countries in the region, and the resolution of existing problems is directly related to the support and participation of different parties. Beijing is ready to strengthen communication with Pyongyang and play a constructive role for the denuclearization of the peninsula and the construction of a peace mechanism in the region.

Despite the complex changes that have taken place on the Korean Peninsula in recent years, Sino-North Korean relations have stood the test. The PRC and the DPRK are deepening contacts, strengthening interaction, stimulating cooperation, and playing an active role in promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, protecting peace and stability, and promoting the prosperity and development of the region and the entire planet. As Xi Jinping noted, it is necessary not only to pass on traditional friendship to the next generation, but also to better develop it. This is a strategic choice of the two sides, made in accordance with historical and factual factors, as well as taking into account the international and regional situation and the state of bilateral relations. It is also the only correct choice that should not and will not change due to isolated minor incidents.

Illustration copyright Reuters Image caption Donald Trump reproached the Chinese authorities for not putting enough pressure on North Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Donald Trump and North Korean authorities to show restraint and refrain from “words and actions” that could increase tensions.

Earlier, the US President warned North Korea that it faces “big, big trouble” if anything happens to the island of Guam, where the American military base is located.

Speaking at Bedminster, a golf resort in New Jersey, Trump promised the area would be "completely secure" and threatened further sanctions on North Korea.

After this, Donald Trump had a telephone conversation with Xi Jinping. According to Chinese media, Chairman Xi noted that it is in the interests of both China and the United States to ensure that the Korean Peninsula becomes a nuclear-free zone.

According to the White House, both sides came to a common understanding that North Korea must cease its "provocative and aggressive behavior."

“Let’s hope that happens,” Trump said earlier. “Nobody likes peaceful solutions more than President Trump, I assure you.”

On Friday The US President warned that the American army is "ready for battle." "Military solutions are at the ready, ready to fight if North Korea acts unwisely. Let's hope Kim Je-un finds another way," Trump tweeted.

Trump has stepped up his belligerent rhetoric toward North Korea on Tuesday, vowing the US would respond with "fire and fury" after Pyongyang said it could now equip its intercontinental ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads.

The DPRK authorities responded by saying that.

According to CNN, the North Korean army commander said: "The American president was on the golf course again spewing nonsense about 'fire and fury' without being able to grasp the gravity of the situation."

The exchange of threats between Washington and Pyongyang has raised concerns in Moscow. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the risk of military conflict as very high. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that there is no military solution to the North Korean problem, and “escalating aggressive rhetoric is the wrong answer.”

On Friday Donald Trump, when asked by journalists to clarify the words about “fire and fury,” replied: “I hope that they [North Korea] understand the full seriousness of what I said, and I said it seriously... These words are very, very understandable Just".

“If he [Kim Jong-un] makes another direct threat [...] against Guam or any other American territory or American ally, then he will truly regret it and regret it immediately,” Trump added .

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Also on Friday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) accused Washington of "criminally attempting to engineer a nuclear disaster against the Korean people," saying the US was making desperate attempts to test its weapons on the Korean Peninsula.

“The United States is the instigator of nuclear threats, a disgusting fanatic of nuclear war,” the statement said.

The current round of tension began after the DPRK launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July, after which the UN decided to strengthen economic sanctions against Pyongyang.

According to Pentagon chief John Mattis, the United States has not lost hope of resolving the North Korean crisis through diplomacy. The war will turn into a disaster, the US Secretary of Defense warned.

No one can talk about this with greater accuracy except the participants in the negotiations - Chinese leader Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. And their retinues.

What did the two eastern leaders agree on?

But political observers still speak with confidence about some of the agreements reached during the visit of the head of the DPRK to China that ended today.

I think Kim Jong-un shared his position on how he thinks about doing business with the Americans."

Alexander Zhebin, one of the leading - if not number one - Korean historians in Russia, head of the Center for Korean Studies at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, agreed with this opinion in a conversation with Constantinople.

“True, I don’t think there was any discussion - this is not in the traditions of their diplomacy,” the expert continued. - He simply stated his position to the Chinese - that’s all. And they, in turn, laid out their own, on the basis of which the Koreans will draw conclusions about what the Chinese will support and what they won’t.”

As for the 47-point ultimatum that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently put forward to Pyongyang, the scientist urges people to remain cool: “Pompeo says something, Bolton says something, someone else says something. And Kim Jong-un believes that the main thing is what they agreed on with Trump. And the rest is all just that, at the background level, so to speak. Moreover, the Americans do not seem to be taking any action yet. And if there are actions, the Koreans will respond with their own.” One can say even more: the United States nevertheless made a gesture of goodwill by refusing joint exercises with South Korea in August.

Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

What did the two eastern leaders really agree on?

But after the negotiations, in open statements to the public, both leaders showed the main vectors of these same coincidences of positions. Firstly, the Americans were caught doing the most important thing: supporting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The meeting between the top leadership of the DPRK and the United States opens a new page in the process of eliminating nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula,”

Kim Jong-un said at a meeting with the President of the People's Republic of China. That is, the first answer to the ultimatum is ready: nuclear disarmament of the entire peninsula is an achievable goal, there is an agreement on this, its implementation depends on Washington and only on it.

Second: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday proposed to Chinese President Xi Jinping to create a reliable mechanism to ensure the process of nuclear disarmament on the Korean Peninsula. This phrase was repeated more than once in reports by China Central Television. More precisely, even like this: “I hope for the solidarity of China and other countries of the world to create a lasting mechanism that will ensure long-term peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.” There is only one other country here - Russia. All the rest are either satellites of America or do not matter in this political picture.

Third, what Alexander Zhebin spoke about: the Chinese stated their position. This was expressed in a statement by Chinese President Xi Jinping about “strong support” for Pyongyang’s efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. It added that “the negotiations took place in a warm, open and friendly atmosphere.”

Finally, an approximate mechanism for a “robust mechanism” is outlined: Pyongyang will maintain constant contact with Chinese representatives in order to “ensure genuine peace while shaping a new future.” Kim Jong-un said this. And the Chinese Foreign Ministry spoke quite officially about the position of the state. According to him, Comrade Xi “observes with pleasure” the implementation of the agreements between the DPRK and the United States on denuclearization, and there is complete agreement between the PRC and the DPRK that it is necessary to “jointly develop the current trend towards ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”

Xi Jinping. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

There will be three of us tango

Translated, it means: Beijing will carefully and interestedly watch America’s implementation of agreements with North Korea, and these two countries will jointly resist any wobbles and ultimatums with the aim of withdrawing. And any binding decisions to denuclearize the entire Korean Peninsula will require Chinese approval. To put it very simply, there will be no disarmament of the DPRK, and bilateral agreements will in fact be trilateral. Because Comrade Xi Jinping highly values ​​the “strategic contacts” between China and North Korea.

“The Americans said that they would do without China in this matter,” Zhebin clarified. - They said that now they don’t need China as a mediator - they have a direct line with Pyongyang, direct contact... And Trump really gave Kim Jong-un his personal phone number.

In a word, the Americans decided: we can now manage the North Korean issue without China. But this is not entirely true, apparently, as this trip testifies. It’s hard to do without China.”...