North Korea and China Close Ranks Under U.S. Pressure... The 'Denuclearization' Solution Remains Far Away

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] North Korea and China, having confirmed that the Biden administration's policies toward China and North Korea are leaning toward 'pressure and sanctions,' are moving to strengthen mutual solidarity. In particular, the escalation of U.S.-China conflicts has the effect of eliminating the space for China's role in the North Korean nuclear issue, leading to analyses that finding a solution for denuclearization has become even more difficult.

On the 23rd, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, sent a verbal letter to Xi Jinping, President of China, informing him of the situation of the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party.

According to the report, in the letter, Kim Jong-un notified that "based on serious study and analysis of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and international relations, policy positions related to strengthening national defense and inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. relations were discussed and decided," and emphasized that "in response to the all-out challenges and disruptive acts of hostile forces, the two parties and two countries of North Korea and China will strengthen unity and cooperation." He also evaluated that under Xi's leadership, the Chinese Communist Party and people have overcome COVID-19 and firmly defended socialism despite slanders and pressure from hostile forces.

In response, President Xi also replied with a verbal letter, stating, "We are willing to make new active contributions to safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to the peace, stability, development, and prosperity of the region." Xi further expressed willingness to provide economic support to North Korea, saying, "Under the new situation, by joining hands with comrades in North Korea, we will excellently safeguard, consolidate, and develop China-North Korea relations, promote new achievements in the socialist cause of the two countries, and provide a better life for the peoples of both countries."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The exchange of letters between the North Korean and Chinese leaders, the strengthening of cooperation, and the expression of willingness for economic support came after the Biden administration's visits to South Korea and Japan and the holding of high-level U.S.-China talks, which can be interpreted in various ways. During the South Korea-Japan visits, the U.S. clearly expressed its intention to pressure China through the South Korea-U.S.-Japan alliance. The subsequent U.S.-China talks were held in a cold atmosphere, confirming only the differences in positions.

Along with the strengthening of North Korea-China solidarity, attention should also be paid to Russia's movements. China and Russia are also voicing a united front against the U.S., creating a scenario where North Korea, China, and Russia face off against South Korea, the U.S., and Japan in a 'new Cold War structure.'

Experts predict that as the U.S. focuses on pressuring China, it will become even more difficult to find clues for North Korea's denuclearization. For the U.S., the North Korean issue is no longer a 'top priority,' and if U.S.-China conflicts worsen, it will be difficult to expect China's cooperation on denuclearization.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said, "The exchange of letters after the South Korea-U.S. foreign and defense ministers' (2+2) meeting shows the intention that North Korea and China, not South Korea-U.S.-Japan, will lead the Korean Peninsula issue," adding, "In a situation where the U.S. is surrounding and checking China, it seems difficult to seek China's cooperation on denuclearization."

Shin Beom-chul, head of the Foreign and Security Center at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, also said, "With the formation of an 'anti-U.S. network block,' a new Cold War structure is forming, and it has become more difficult to find a denuclearization solution," explaining, "We need to wait until the U.S. releases its North Korea policy review in April, but for the U.S., the China issue is the top priority, followed by Iran, and then North Korea."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.