US Pressures China on North Korea Role... "South Korea Should Engage in Dialogue with China"

US Blinken "Will Find Ways to Engage North Korea"
Experts "Low Likelihood of China Changing Stance"
South Korea's Challenge... "Must Seize Dialogue Opportunities with China"

Tony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State's visit to China is causing ripples in diplomatic circles. Blinken explained the outcomes of his meeting with Xi Jinping, the President of China, stating that "China will exercise its influence to deter North Korea's provocations." Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden referred to President Xi as a 'dictator,' resulting in a seesawing state of U.S.-China relations. Experts advised that considering China's influence over North Korea, South Korea should expand opportunities for dialogue with China.

According to diplomatic sources on the 22nd, during an interview with local U.S. media on the 20th (local time), Secretary Blinken said, "China is well aware that the most destabilizing actor in the region is Chairman Kim Jong-un," and warned that if China does not exercise its influence over North Korea for any reason, the U.S. will take measures such as joint exercises with South Korea and Japan. He added, "Even if these measures are not aimed at China, China will not like them," and "Therefore, China will seek ways to exert influence over North Korea."

Blinken Expected Change from China... Experts Say 'Low Probability'

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shaking hands with U.S. Secretary of State Blinken [Image source=Yonhap News]

Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, who accompanied Blinken on his China visit and arrived in South Korea the day before, also conveyed the same stance to senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, the prevailing assessment is that it is difficult to expect a change in China's attitude toward North Korea. It is interpreted as an attempt to justify the U.S.'s position on Northeast Asian security issues while emphasizing China's role regarding North Korea.

Professor Park Won-gon of Ewha Womans University’s Department of North Korean Studies analyzed, "The U.S. stance emphasizes China's responsibility while securing justification rather than confidence in China's change," and "Realistically, the possibility of China cooperating in pressuring North Korea is low." He added, "For China to take a progressive stance, U.S.-China relations would need to reach a consensus in both economic and security aspects, but the current level of dialogue will not change their position."

Denis Wilder, former Senior Director for Asia at the White House National Security Council (NSC), said in an interview with Voice of America (VOA), "It is entirely true that China has more influence over North Korea than any other country worldwide," but he also diagnosed, "Given the widespread distrust between the U.S. and China and China's perception of being contained and encircled by U.S. regional policies, it is very difficult to expect China's support."

However, Professor Park Won-gon believed that even dialogue between the U.S. and China would place pressure on North Korea. Both countries agreed to open the door for dialogue, and North Korea was included as a topic in that dialogue. North Korea reacted the previous day through a commentary by international affairs analyst Jeong Young-hak, published by the Korean Central News Agency, calling Blinken's visit "a shameful begging act of a provocateur admitting the failure of the China pressure policy."

North Korea Not a Priority for China"South Korea Should Engage in Dialogue with China"

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea (left), and Xi Jinping, President of China, toasting
[Image source=Yonhap News]

China clearly stands beside North Korea. In the joint statement issued after the China-Russia summit in March, China blatantly showed its willingness to embrace North Korea by removing the 'double suspension' from the statement. The 'double suspension' refers to the simultaneous suspension of North Korea's ballistic missile launches and South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, a principle China has emphasized as a solution to the North Korean nuclear issue. This implies that China tolerates North Korea's missile provocations as long as South Korea-U.S. joint exercises continue.

Joo Jae-woo, Director of the China Research Center at the Korea Institute for National Strategy, pointed out, "Currently, North Korea is not a priority issue between the U.S. and China," adding, "There are many pressing issues between the U.S. and China that take precedence over North Korea." He further explained, "China's removal of the double suspension from its North Korean nuclear principle means 'we will tolerate missile launches to some extent,'" and "China's frequent use of veto power at the United Nations Security Council is in the same context."

Director Joo urged that to increase China's influence over North Korea and enhance South Korea's engagement with China, "we must not miss the opportunity for dialogue." He said, "Currently, there is not much we can lead proactively," and "The U.S. strategy is to manage the crisis through cooperation in non-military areas with low risk. It is time for us to find points of contact with China and seize the opportunity to improve relations."

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