N. Korean leader likely to visit China this week to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic ties
- 5 years ago
With North Korea and China set to mark the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties... many observers are speculating that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un might head over to China this week.
And if he does,... eyes are on how the North Korean leader might use his close ties with Beijing as leverage... ahead of the delayed working-level denuclearization talks with the U.S.
Oh Jung-hee starts us off.
Since tensions began to thaw on the Korean Peninsula in 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited China four times... and in June, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the North Korean capital.
These five summits between the two communist allies took place... when they felt the need to show their close friendship before and after the Kim-Trump summits and amid a prolonged deadlock in denuclearization talks.
This week, Kim Jong-un is expected to head to China once again.
That... as North Korea-U.S. denuclearization talks are expected to get back on track in the near future... and more importantly, as Pyeongyang and Beijing celebrate their 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties on October 6th.
South Korea's intelligence agency also believes a visit is likely.
It could happen before or after October 6th, since the day marks the anniversary of North Korea-China diplomatic relations. Ahead of the first two North Korea-U.S. summits, Kim visited China. Given that precedent, the possibility is there.
As a result, observers see that a resumption of working-level talks between Pyeongyang and Washington will pick up speed after Kim returns from China.
"Kim's visit to China will further strengthen North Korea-China relations and help the North get an upper hand in its negotiations with the U.S. That is, even if North Korea faces sanctions, it will keep its economic situation stable and make the U.S. change its stance rather than giving in."
If Kim heads to China this week, it's likely that China will side with North Korea to call for regime security and sanctions relief from Washington... for there to be any progress in denuclearization talks.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
And if he does,... eyes are on how the North Korean leader might use his close ties with Beijing as leverage... ahead of the delayed working-level denuclearization talks with the U.S.
Oh Jung-hee starts us off.
Since tensions began to thaw on the Korean Peninsula in 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited China four times... and in June, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the North Korean capital.
These five summits between the two communist allies took place... when they felt the need to show their close friendship before and after the Kim-Trump summits and amid a prolonged deadlock in denuclearization talks.
This week, Kim Jong-un is expected to head to China once again.
That... as North Korea-U.S. denuclearization talks are expected to get back on track in the near future... and more importantly, as Pyeongyang and Beijing celebrate their 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties on October 6th.
South Korea's intelligence agency also believes a visit is likely.
It could happen before or after October 6th, since the day marks the anniversary of North Korea-China diplomatic relations. Ahead of the first two North Korea-U.S. summits, Kim visited China. Given that precedent, the possibility is there.
As a result, observers see that a resumption of working-level talks between Pyeongyang and Washington will pick up speed after Kim returns from China.
"Kim's visit to China will further strengthen North Korea-China relations and help the North get an upper hand in its negotiations with the U.S. That is, even if North Korea faces sanctions, it will keep its economic situation stable and make the U.S. change its stance rather than giving in."
If Kim heads to China this week, it's likely that China will side with North Korea to call for regime security and sanctions relief from Washington... for there to be any progress in denuclearization talks.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.