China concerned about being bypassed in political turnaround: experts
- 6 years ago
중국 외교장관, 11년만의 방북... '중국 역할론' 성과는?
China's top diplomat travelled to Pyongyang.
A strategic move to strengthen relations with the regime ahead of the North Korea-U.S. summit.
While Beijing seems to have been very eager about this meeting, the hermit kingdom seems rather calm.
Oh Jung-hee sheds light on the possible reason behind the contrasting attitudes.
It was the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Pyongyang in 11 years.
Beijing's Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi made a two-day trip to the North Korean capital this week,... meeting with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho and the North's leader Kim Jong-un.
The objective -- to discuss the outcome of last week's inter-Korean summit... and more importantly, to reaffirm China's position amid ongoing discussions on denuclearization and ending the decades-long armistice.
Wang told North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that China hopes to strengthen strategic communication with North Korea "in every aspect."
And he told the North's foreign minister that China will continue to play a (quote) "positive role."
"China is a major party to the armistice treaty, we stand ready to have continued communication with the U.S., South Korea and other relevant parties."
China's foreign ministry was quick to brief the world on Wang's meeting with Kim Jong-un,... immediately posting statements on its official social media account.
Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency, on the other hand, used formal expressions saying that there were in-depth discussions... and hinted Kim and Wang had differences in views,... writing they (quote)"reconfirmed the views of North Korea and China."
It appears as though Pyongyang is leaving room for development in relations with Washington.
"If North Korea-U.S. relations go on to dramatically improve, then North Korea will want to achieve a strategic balance between the U.S. and China so that it can maximize its geopolitical value and obtain as much benefit as possible from both countries."
China has, until recently, called itself only a 'mediator' of issues on the Korean Peninsula -- meaning the North Korean nuclear issue is not its responsibility.
But now, Beijing calls itself a (quote)"major relevant party."
The recent change of rhetoric, experts say, comes as China feels the direct threat of being bypassed in the political turnaround: Washington can skip over China to directly negotiate with North Korea... and even go further to reduce Beijing's influence in the region by normalizing ties with Pyongyang.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
China's top diplomat travelled to Pyongyang.
A strategic move to strengthen relations with the regime ahead of the North Korea-U.S. summit.
While Beijing seems to have been very eager about this meeting, the hermit kingdom seems rather calm.
Oh Jung-hee sheds light on the possible reason behind the contrasting attitudes.
It was the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Pyongyang in 11 years.
Beijing's Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi made a two-day trip to the North Korean capital this week,... meeting with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho and the North's leader Kim Jong-un.
The objective -- to discuss the outcome of last week's inter-Korean summit... and more importantly, to reaffirm China's position amid ongoing discussions on denuclearization and ending the decades-long armistice.
Wang told North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that China hopes to strengthen strategic communication with North Korea "in every aspect."
And he told the North's foreign minister that China will continue to play a (quote) "positive role."
"China is a major party to the armistice treaty, we stand ready to have continued communication with the U.S., South Korea and other relevant parties."
China's foreign ministry was quick to brief the world on Wang's meeting with Kim Jong-un,... immediately posting statements on its official social media account.
Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency, on the other hand, used formal expressions saying that there were in-depth discussions... and hinted Kim and Wang had differences in views,... writing they (quote)"reconfirmed the views of North Korea and China."
It appears as though Pyongyang is leaving room for development in relations with Washington.
"If North Korea-U.S. relations go on to dramatically improve, then North Korea will want to achieve a strategic balance between the U.S. and China so that it can maximize its geopolitical value and obtain as much benefit as possible from both countries."
China has, until recently, called itself only a 'mediator' of issues on the Korean Peninsula -- meaning the North Korean nuclear issue is not its responsibility.
But now, Beijing calls itself a (quote)"major relevant party."
The recent change of rhetoric, experts say, comes as China feels the direct threat of being bypassed in the political turnaround: Washington can skip over China to directly negotiate with North Korea... and even go further to reduce Beijing's influence in the region by normalizing ties with Pyongyang.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.