Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to North Korea is reportedly motivated by Beijing's desire to counter the strengthening ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, as well as to respond to calls from the United States for Chinese cooperation in handling North Korea, according to a U.S. expert.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Victor Cha, who serves as the president of the geopolitics and foreign policy department and Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), shared insights during a CSIS podcast following an announcement from North Korea's state media about Xi's planned visit. Xi is set to visit North Korea on Monday and Tuesday, marking his first trip there since 2019. This visit comes after Xi's separate meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing last month, as well as his visit to South Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Cha suggested that the trip is partly driven by U.S. pressure on China to assist with North Korea, emphasizing the strategic implications for regional security. He noted that both Japan and South Korea are enhancing their military capabilities, with South Korea seeking to develop nuclear-powered submarines in collaboration with the U.S., and Japan ramping up its military efforts. This changing security environment is prompting China to reconsider its stance.
Furthermore, Cha mentioned that the U.S. under Trump's administration is not acting as a traditional ally for Asian partners, instead promoting a "burden-sharing" policy that encourages Seoul and Tokyo to bolster their defense capabilities independently.
Xi's visit is also perceived as a strategic move by China to address the growing partnership between Russia and North Korea, which China views with unease. Cha indicated that facilitating renewed engagement between Trump and North Korea could serve as a low-cost strategy for China to weaken the Russia-North Korea relationship without straining its own ties with Russia.
In the podcast, Edgard Kagan, a former U.S. ambassador to Malaysia, discussed China's concerns about North Korea's nuclear program and suggested that Xi's visit might be prompted by these issues. He highlighted North Korea's recent unveiling of a new nuclear material production facility as a potential source of irritation for China.
Kagan speculated that China's leadership might be apprehensive about North Korea's intentions, while also recognizing that Xi's visit could hold diplomatic leverage as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is likely interested in the purpose behind Xi's visit.
Kim Jong-un's previous visit to China for a Victory Day event last September is seen as setting the stage for Xi's reciprocal visit to North Korea next week.