Xi, Kim pledge to open 'new chapter' of strategic coordination, support for core interests during summit

North Korea and China signaled closer strategic coordination beyond the Korean Peninsula during a summit in Pyongyang, with both sides emphasizing cooperation on international and regional issues.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said they had reached broad agreement on a range of issues, following talks at the Kumsusan State Guesthouse on Monday. Kim said the two sides had achieved a "satisfactory consensus of views," according to an English language report from the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Xi also said they had reached "important common understanding" to bolster strategic cooperation.

The two emphasized their shared socialist ideology and longstanding alliance, agreeing to "open a new chapter of the development of the DPRK-China relations." DPRK is the initialism for the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. 

After Xi met U.S. President Donald Trump on May 14 and 15, he consecutively met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North's Kim. Experts say the meetings reinforce what some see as an increasingly coordinated relationship among China, North Korea and Russia, that goes against the United States.

Particularly notable was the absence of any mention of North Korea's nuclear program in statements released after the summit. The omission could have significant implications for security on the Korean Peninsula, potentially deepening concerns over growing strategic competition between the U.S.-South Korea alliance and closer North Korea-China ties.

Strategic coordination between North Korea and China

Kim described Xi's visit as a sign of Beijing's commitment to bilateral ties.

Kim said North Korea will "ever maintain the DPRK-China friendship as the most important top-priority strategic work," according to KCNA reports.

"[We will do the] utmost to strengthen the bilateral relations into a model of the relationship between socialist states and into an invariably special, genuine and solid strategic relationship and that this is our immutable choice and will," Kim added.

China also reiterated its commitment, with Xi saying that the "traditional friendship between China and the DPRK, forged in blood, is a valuable shared asset of the two peoples," according to Xinhua reports.

Both sides stressed their shared history, including anti-Japanese resistance activities and China's participation in the 1950-53 Korean War, underscoring a common anti-U.S. narrative and alignment against Washington.

KCNA said the two leaders exchanged views on international and regional issues and reached a "satisfactory consensus of views" on strengthening strategic coordination and cooperation, defending their sovereignty, security and development interests, and jointly safeguarding regional and global peace and development amid a complex international political environment.

The language suggests that North Korea and China could seek closer coordination in responding to competition between Washington and Beijing, while also countering the U.S.-South Korea alliance and trilateral security cooperation among Korea, the United States and Japan.

Taiwan as a key agenda

Kim also pledged support for China's position on Taiwan.

"No matter however the situation may change, our party and government will fully support the policy and stand of the Chinese party and government to defend the core interests on the 'one-China' principle," Kim said, according to KCNA reports.

The remarks were widely interpreted as a commitment to support Beijing on Taiwan-related issues.

Xi responded by saying China's commitment to traditional ties with North Korea would remain unchanged.

"The Chinese party and government will remain unchanged in their firm stand to place very importance on the traditional China-DPRK friendship, their firm support to the socialist cause of the DPRK led by Comrade General Secretary Kim Jong-un and their firm determination to defend the common interests of the both sides and good strategic environment no matter how the international situation may change," Xi responded, according to KCNA.

Some analysts have expressed concern that in the event of a Taiwan contingency, North Korea could support China indirectly by increasing military pressure on South Korea.

But while Chinese media reported Xi's remarks to expand diplomatic, legal and military exchanges with Pyongyang, North Korean state media chose to omit the comments.

Xi's proposal led observers to speculate that military cooperation could deepen, but analysts state that Kim may remain cautious about becoming entangled in a Taiwan conflict after experiencing the risks associated with overseas military operations through North Korea's deployment of troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine. It can also suggest that Kim continues to keep open the possibility of future negotiations with Trump.

"It is likely that North Korea omitted references to military and legal exchanges because it recognized China's intention to monitor and manage Pyongyang more closely," Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said. "It was probably an effort to protect its autonomy in national defense."

Intentional silence on the nuclear issue

North Korea has enshrined its status as a nuclear weapons state in its constitution and stated the strengthening of its nuclear forces as part of its socialist mission. However, neither side mentioned the issue nor denuclearization following the summit.

"This reflects an intentional silence on China's part and suggests de facto tolerance," Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University's Institute for Far Eastern Studies, said.

"By expressing support for North Korea's socialist cause as a whole, China is signaling that it is prepared to develop relations while accepting North Korea's current nuclear status."

China has often responded to North Korean actions affecting Chinese security interests, including  nuclear tests or military deployments abroad, by tightening crackdowns against North Korean smugglers and workers in China. But experts say Beijing may now be entering a bystander phase on the nuclear issue after securing Pyongyang's support on Taiwan and more, integrating Kim into its strategic camp.

Such a development could complicate the Lee Jae Myung administration's efforts to secure China’s help in denuclearizing North Korea.

But some experts say things can change.

"China views Korean Peninsula issues as subordinate to broader U.S.-China relations and can change its position based on its interests," Oh Gyeong-seob, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said.

"The absence of comments on denuclearization alone is not enough to conclude that China has accepted North Korea's nuclear weapons status."

North Korea also chose not to publicize economic incentives offered by Xi during the visit.

Chinese media reported that Xi proposed expanding people-to-people exchanges through the full reopening of border trade checkpoints, commercial flights and international passenger rail services. The proposal would effectively support Kim's regional development initiative and tourism projects.

Analysts said North Korea may be reluctant to highlight such measures because expanded tourism and cross-border exchanges could accelerate the inflow of outside information and increase contact with foreigners, which are developments Pyongyang has long regarded as potential threats to regime stability.

BY CHUNG YEONG-GYO, LEE YU-JUNG [[email protected]]