After a long and tense phase of political bickering, a detente is being reached between the west and the North Korean leadership.
In this backdrop, North Korean Supreme leader Kim Jong-Un recently undertook his maiden foreign diplomatic trip to Beijing.
How has China – North Korea ties evolved over time?
Historically - China has historically played a role in inter-Korean relations.
In 2000, Mr. Kim’s father and predecessor, Kim Jong-il, had visited China shortly before a summit with South Korea.
In 2003, China launched the Six-Party Talks aimed at peacefully resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis, which eventually failed.
The strain - China had been under pressure from the west for long to exercise its influence to curtail North Korea’s nuclear program.
Beijing too wasn’t happy with Mr. Kim’s conduct and had supported the stringent UN sanctions on North Korea, which crippled North Korean trade.
Its coal exports of coal, seafood and other goods to China were hit and the friendship with China came under severe strain.
What are the implications of the current visit?
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently travelled by train to Beijing, which marks his first foreign trip after assuming power in 2011.
The visit has helped repair the strain that had developed lately between Beijing and Pyongyang over erratic nuclear tests by the latter.
He held talks with Chinese President Xi and re-emphasised his commitment to de-nuclearise – thereby clearly inviting China into the current negotiations.
Notably, a peace summit has been scheduled with South Korean President Moon and the subsequent one is slated with the US president Trump.
This visit has send out a clear message that Mr. Kim is serious about his offer for talks.
What are the areas of convergence?
Mr. Kim’s visit to Beijing has reinstated China’s central role in talks over the Korean crisis, which both countries see as mutually beneficial
For the Kim regime, China’s experience and guidance could come in handy when it is preparing to engage with two of its biggest rivals.
For China, this presents an opportunity to get proactive as a global power house in resolving international disputes.
Also, if Mr. Kim’s fundamental concern is the survival of its regime, then China too has a major stake in North Korea’s view point (South Korea is an US ally).
What are the challenges for peace?
There are still considerable challenges due to the unreliability of the Trump administration in towing its commitments.
If the US – North Korea summit fails, there will be a return to a high tension situation, which is undesirable and dangerous for all.
As the context is volatile, multilateral intervention would help in sustaining the talks and China could possibly play facilitator to balance demands.
