China and North Korea join hands, America worries about pressure!

With the secret train trip at night and an undisclosed itinerary, public opinion is asking: Is this a trip to prepare for the upcoming second US-North Korea summit as well as to put pressure on the US? And that China is still an indispensable factor in any important diplomatic move by North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his wife before leaving for a visit to China. Photo: AP

Indispensable factor

This trip to China marks the fourth summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping since last year. Looking back at last year, Kim Jong-un made three visits to China in March, May and June.

It is obvious that these are all milestones before or after the summits between Leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in as well as US President Donald Trump. According to observers, it is clear that China is still a leading partner, holding an indispensable position in the foreign policy of the DPRK.

Although China has repeatedly expressed its public criticism of North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, it can be said that the China-North Korea relationship has yet to be replaced by another equivalent relationship.

According to the Washington Post, the fact that Leader Kim Jong-un celebrated his 35th birthday on the occasion of his visit to China shows his respect for this traditional relationship.

Furthermore, observers also commented that Mr. Kim Jong-un certainly wanted to probe China's attitude towards the recent sanctions imposed by the United Nations and the United States on the country, as well as the possibility that Beijing could ease pressure on Pyongyang.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: Sky News

Because China's attitude will have a big impact on how Kim Jong-un responds to US sanctions. With China's support, North Korea will certainly have more bargaining power at the negotiating table with the US. Especially when the latest US-China trade talks are taking place at the same time in Beijing, China.

Not only that, more than anyone else, North Korea understands that China will also be an indispensable component in the negotiations to sign a peace treaty to replace the temporary armistice agreement of the 1950-1953 Korean War, ending the state of war on the Korean peninsula. Because in the past, China was one of the three parties to sign the armistice agreement along with the US and North Korea.

Change strategy

Meanwhile, there seems to have been a shift in North Korea's diplomatic moves since leader Kim Jong-un took power in 2011. Just a year ago, especially before and after the US-North Korea summit in June 2018, people saw a particularly good-willed North Korea taking steps to improve relations with the US.

However, since then, despite Pyongyang's significant concessions, US President Donald Trump has remained resolute in not lifting sanctions on North Korea, because the US's condition is that North Korea must immediately hand over its nuclear arsenal and completely denuclearize.

US President Donald Trump remains adamant about not lifting sanctions on North Korea. Photo: CNN

Clearly, despite the first summit going quite well, the deep distrust between the US and North Korea is still difficult to bridge. Negotiations have stalled and made little progress.

Everyone understands that even if North Korea de-escalates, it cannot make “one-sided concessions” without receiving security guarantees from the US after denuclearization. Therefore, once patience has “reached its limit,” it seems that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is adjusting his upcoming “moves.”

As evidenced in his recent New Year's speech - considered a strategic direction for North Korea in the coming year - leader Kim Jong-un emphasized that Pyongyang would choose a new path if negotiations with the US remained deadlocked and Washington continued to impose sanctions and pressure.

He also emphasized the spirit of "fairness" in the negotiations and that North Korea is always ready to open up, and everything will depend on the attitude and goodwill of the US.

This message can be understood as North Korea wanting to send a message to the US that Pyongyang still has other options besides the US and South Korea in all issues, from economy to diplomacy, security...

According to observers, through this trip, North Korea probably also wants to "please" its long-time ally China by affirming the strong China-North Korea relationship.

Not only sending a message to the US and China, this trip is also for Pyongyang to "send a signal" to Seoul. In the context of the US-North Korea relationship not having much progress or even going downhill, South Korea, with the leadership of the peace-loving President Moon Jae-in, probably will not hesitate to trade a little peace with its US ally to comply with the requests from North Korea. Surely, with a peaceful future on the Korean Peninsula seemingly nearing its destination, the South Korean President has more reason to act in this direction.

Is there going to be a second US-North Korea summit?

Returning to China this time, accompanying leader Kim Jong-un are his wife Ri Sol-ju and a number of high-ranking officials, such as: Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho, Head of the United Front Department in charge of inter-Korean relations of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Yong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Pak Thae-song...

Although the schedule was not disclosed in detail, observers believe that the main content will most likely be a specific discussion about a second US-North Korea summit - if it actually takes place as both sides expect.

Many recent signals show that all sides are looking forward to a second US-North Korea summit. As in a recent statement, US President Donald Trump expressed hope to hold a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the near future.

In fact, improving relations with North Korea and achieving historic diplomatic results have been among President Donald Trump’s strategic goals since taking office. This move is also in line with the Indo-Pacific region priority strategy that Trump is promoting.

Is there going to be a second US-North Korea summit? Photo: CNN

Of course, under the pressure of Kim Jong-un's visit to China this time, these could become "bargaining" conditions at the tense trade negotiation table between the US and China at this time.

Meanwhile, on the North Korean side, along with a more balanced attitude towards both the US and China, Leader Kim Jong-un still affirms maintaining the policy of opening up, integrating and developing the national economy.

Therefore, a second summit with the US President is also what Mr. Kim Jong-un expects. However, whether the US-North Korea summit will actually take place and whether the content will be more positive and realistic than the first meeting will still depend on the pros and cons that all parties are considering. In particular, the results of this China-North Korea meeting will certainly play an indispensable role!