"China Keeps Distance Amid North Korea-Russia Closeness... Avoids Instability in Situation"

North Korea and Russia Signed Military Alliance-Level Treaty Last Week
"Concerns Over China's Acceleration of North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Development"
"China Likely Does Not Want to Be Grouped with North Korea and Russia"

As Russia and North Korea strengthened their ties by signing a military alliance-level treaty last week, an analysis suggests that China is likely to watch this development with caution. The uncertainty in the international situation caused by their close cooperation is expected to be a burden for China.

According to CNN and others on the 23rd (local time), "The groundbreaking new defense agreement agreed upon by the two nuclear-armed regimes (Russia and North Korea) has unsettled the United States and its Asian allies," adding, "The close relationship between the two regime leaders could be another source of anxiety for President Xi Jinping, who is grappling with various domestic issues such as economic slowdown and hopes for peace and stability in Northeast Asia."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un held a summit in Pyongyang on the 19th and signed a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement' covering politics, trade, investment, and security. The agreement includes a clause that if either North Korea or Russia is subjected to armed invasion, the other will promptly provide military assistance. At the time, the United States, South Korea, and Japan expressed concerns and criticism, but China refused to comment, stating it was a matter between Russia and North Korea.

Victor Cha, Senior Vice President for Asia and the Korean Peninsula at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said, "China's response is very weak," suggesting, "This may signal that China is still unsure about what stance to take." From China's perspective, the partnership between Russia and North Korea could be welcomed as a means to check the United States' global dominance, but it could also act as an uncomfortable factor in maintaining China's hegemony in East Asia.

Ryu Dongsu, Assistant Professor of Chinese Politics at Hong Kong City University, said, "China wants to control the situation regarding North Korea but does not want North Korea to completely collapse," adding, "However, China is concerned that Russia's military and technical support is accelerating North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs and emboldening the Kim Jong-un regime's actions." He continued, "As Russia and North Korea deepen their alliance, China will also cautiously keep its distance," emphasizing, "China does not want to be seen as part of a new axis of powers by Western forces."

Meanwhile, there is speculation that the strengthening of relations between Russia and North Korea could present new opportunities for China-South Korea relations. With the North Korea-Russia relationship elevated to a military alliance level, China's incentive to restore relations with South Korea while seeking stability in the East Asian situation may increase. In fact, on the 18th, when Chairman Kim and President Putin met in Pyongyang, senior diplomatic and security officials from South Korea and China reportedly held a meeting in Seoul.

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