Xi’s Pyongyang visit raises security concerns

Chinese President Xi Jinping returned home on Tuesday after wrapping up a two-day, one-night visit to Pyongyang. Choosing North Korea as his first overseas destination this year, Xi showcased the two countries’ “special relationship” and “strategic partnership” as a blood alliance through a summit with State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un and a visit to the Friendship Tower. Beyond restoring once-strained bilateral ties, the two sides have moved into comprehensive alignment spanning the economy, diplomacy, law enforcement and even the military. As North Korea put it, Xi’s visit may have opened a “new chapter” in bilateral ties, but dark clouds have gathered over the security landscape of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.

According to statements and reports from both countries, any mention of North Korea’s denuclearization disappeared entirely from this summit. Given that past summits at least referred in principle to the “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” this marks a serious change in China’s stance.

At the summit, Xi said that both sides “must firmly safeguard their respective sovereignty, security and development interests.” Considering that North Korea has claimed nuclear development as a “sovereign right” and even codified it in its constitution, it is hard to dismiss concerns that Xi’s remarks implicitly aligned with Pyongyang’s argument and tolerated its possession of nuclear weapons.

China has, until now, made denuclearization a principle of its Korean Peninsula policy and has presented itself as a mediator as host of the six-party talks aimed at North Korea’s denuclearization. If China accepted North Korea’s position and excluded denuclearization from this summit’s agenda, it would deserve criticism for abandoning its responsible role in the international community.

Also troubling is the inclusion of the phrase “military exchanges” in the Chinese statement. In addition, the economic cooperation Xi proposed, including the full opening of border trade crossings, could lead to the weakening of the international community’s sanctions against the North Korean regime.

North Korea, having strengthened its ties with Russia, is enhancing its strategic value through cooperation with China, its traditional ally. Diplomatic and security authorities must recognize the serious repercussions that this closer North Korea-China relationship could bring and prepare countermeasures.

President Lee Jae Myung called for China’s role in North Korea’s denuclearization at the South Korea-China summit last January, but it is questionable whether China is truly playing a role commensurate with that request. The government must demonstrate diplomatic resolve by clearly conveying its concerns to China about security threats in Northeast Asia and urging it to act responsibly.

Opinion Desk [[email protected]]