China, North Korea deepen ties as Xi skips nuke talk
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- China and North Korea reaffirmed their strategic alliance during Xi Jinping's two-day visit to Pyongyang, with both sides emphasizing cooperation without addressing North Korea's nuclear program.
- Xi Jinping made no public remarks on denuclearization, instead stressing China's commitment to safeguarding shared interests and maintaining a favorable strategic environment with North Korea.
- Kim Jong Un declared that relations with China are his country's 'most important and primary strategic undertaking,' signaling a diplomatic recalibration after recent closeness with Russia.
- North Korea unveiled a new nuclear bomb fuel plant and announced plans to expand its nuclear arsenal 'at an exponential rate,' reinforcing its stance as a permanent nuclear power.
- Tong Zhao of the Carnegie Endowment states China has made a 'significant policy change' to tacitly accept a nuclear North Korea, prioritizing bilateral ties over denuclearization pressure.
- Choo Jaewoo of Kyung Hee University notes Xi and Kim's statements suggest ambitions to expand their alliance beyond the Korean Peninsula, potentially involving regional flashpoints like Taiwan.
Why it matters: China’s silence on denuclearization while deepening ties with North Korea undermines the U.S. claim of shared goals, risks pushing South Korea and Japan to strengthen military alignment with Washington, and signals a shift toward accepting a nuclear-armed North Korea as a strategic partner in challenging the U.S.-led order.
