Chinese President Xi Jinping, who visited North Korea for the first time in seven years, emphasized only bilateral cooperation between North Korea and China in a summit with Chairperson Kim Jong-un, without mentioning the "Korean Peninsula" or "denuclearization." As the two leaders stressed expanding North Korea–China cooperation and strategic coordination, analysts say China's North Korea policy is shifting to prioritize managing relations with North Korea over "pursuing denuclearization."
According to the press release distributed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 8th immediately after the Pyongyang North Korea–China summit, the remarks by the two leaders focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation. Xi personally presented "four major views" related to developing North Korea–China ties and set out specific projects and goals for the two sides. In particular, "strengthening exchanges in diplomacy, law enforcement (public security), and the military" was mentioned for the first time that day.
◇ No mention of "Korean Peninsula" or "denuclearization"… nine mentions in 2019
However, the words "Joseon Peninsula" or "the peninsula," which refer to the Korean Peninsula, did not appear even once. This contrasts with the 2019 Pyongyang summit, when the Chinese readout mentioned "the peninsula" nine times. Even nine months ago, when the chairperson visited China, Xi mentioned the Korean Peninsula twice. The remarks mainly said that safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula is important and that China would help.
There was also no mention of "denuclearization." The Chinese readout on the summit included only a general expression that the two sides would "jointly safeguard regional peace and development," with no separate reference to denuclearization or the North Korean nuclear issue. North Korea, for its part, repeatedly declared "strengthening nuclear forces" up to just before the summit, reaffirming that it would not put its status as a nuclear-armed state on the negotiating table.
On the 5th, after the U.S. Department of State said that Xi and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed on the policy of "complete denuclearization of North Korea" at last month's U.S.–China summit in Beijing, Kim Yo-jong, Director General of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, pushed back strongly, saying, "Nuclear-armed state status is an inviolable red line. We will never tolerate any threat or compromise."
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said, "Until recently, the North Korean nuclear issue was inevitably a core agenda item at North Korea–China summits, but the North Korea that Xi now faces is stronger than ever," adding, "North Korea has strengthened ties by expanding military and economic cooperation with Russia, its economic situation is the best in years, and the chairperson is firmly rejecting participation in denuclearization talks with the United States."
◇ Managing North Korea over solving the nuclear issue… changed Chinese priorities
Experts say China has not officially recognized North Korea's nuclear armament, but appears to be putting more weight on managing North Korea than on pressuring for denuclearization. With the likelihood of resolving the North Korean nuclear issue effectively dim, stabilizing North Korea's regime and maintaining North Korea–China relations have become China's more realistic policy goals.
38 North, a U.S. outlet specializing in North Korea, said, "Recently, North Korea has leveraged its growing influence to support China on Taiwan and Japan issues while seemingly pressuring China to recognize North Korea's nuclear status," adding, "This visit by Xi to North Korea shows how willing China is to adapt to North Korea's changed posture."
Some analysts say China's effective exclusion of denuclearization from the agenda at this summit reflects an intent to guard against North Korea's close alignment with Russia. As North Korea has recently expanded military and economic cooperation with Russia, China's influence over North Korea has relatively weakened, making it more urgent for China to keep North Korea within its sphere of influence than to pressure for denuclearization.
Jenny Town, director of 38 North, said in an interview with ABC that "North Korea has long prioritized Russia far more than China. Relations between the two countries are at their worst since the COVID-19 pandemic," adding, "In response, China is moving to be able to exert greater influence over North Korea."
From the perspective of U.S.–China strategic competition as well, friendly North Korea–China relations are an important strategic asset for China. China is accelerating efforts to build a new China-centric international order outside the U.S.-led order, and North Korea is serving as a strategic partner for that. Still, the North Korean nuclear issue remains a burden for China. There is significant concern that North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities could lead to a buildup of military power by the United States and its allies.
The WSJ said, "China and North Korea are speaking with one voice that the current international order is unfairly run around the United States. China is also seeking North Korea's support for its military pressure on Japan, a U.S. security ally," adding, "However, as North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities expand and progress is made in developing long-range weapons that can strike the U.S. mainland, North Korea is emerging as an unpredictable variable from China's perspective."