Kim Jong Un’s Two‑Day China Trip: A Balancing Act
After a whirlwind summit with President Donald Trump, Kim Jong Un hit the road to Beijing for a quick stop‑over that’s all about keeping the big power players on solid footing.
Why the Rush?
- Kim wants Beijing to hear that Pyongyang is still in the game and won’t ditch its own interests, even as the US steps into a brand‑new diplomatic dance.
- It’s a classic “try to please both sides” strategy: the North Korean leader’s trying to keep China—his economic lifeline and diplomatic backer—in his crosshairs while also watching the US closely.
- Both China and the United States dream of a nuclear‑free Korea, but Beijing’s worry is that a closer US‑Pyongyang partnership could rock its own security and economic stakes.
What the Trip Looks Like
Kim kicked off his first official overseas visit in March, already flexing his ties at Xi’s side. In April he headed to Dalian, the same northeastern port town where the last handshake took place.
While the exact agenda of Wednesday’s trip remained hush‑hush, an AFP journalist caught sight of Kim’s motorcade departing the Diaoyutai guest house for foreign dignitaries. The destination? Still a mystery.
China’s Quiet Support
Although Beijing wasn’t in the Singaporeer fold in mid‑June, it sneaked in a big‑ticket courtesy: a plane to ferry Kim to Singapore. A subtle reminder that China’s still got its finger on the pulse of Korean geopolitics.
Been Together Since the Cold War
- North Korea and China have a long‑standing alliance that dates back to the Korean War, where they fought side‑by‑side against the United States and South Korea.
- Things were a bit rocky in recent years because of pyongyang’s nuclear tests and China’s support of subsequent UN sanctions. The latest trip is a step toward mending those fences.
According to North Korea’s official KCNA news agency, Kim thanked China for “positive and sincere support and good help for the successful summit with Trump.” If you’re looking for a headline in Korean bold, you’ll find it almost exactly the same, just channeled through a slightly funnier narrative lens here.
Kim meets Xi, talks 4 Peace, and wonders if China can hand him a trade card
Cool opener at the Great Hall
Picture this: the North Korean boss waltzes into the Great Hall of the People, and the whole place turns into a mini‑Olympics—an honour guard as stiff as a marching band and a bunch of kids cheering like they’re at the finale of a reality show. All eyes on Kim, all ears tuned to a few very important words.
Talking Buddy‑Style Cooperation
Kim was all “We’ve lately tightened our play‑date,” as he thanked his Chinese counterpart for what he called the “recently strengthened strategic co‑operation.” He smiled, like a kid declaring the ice‑cream order is finally coming, and promised to keep the friendship, unity and collaboration game going strong.
Denuclearisation— the Baby’s First Steps
Kim didn’t stop there. He nudged a big headline: “We’re looking forward to a denuclearised Korean Peninsula.” He’d just had a meet‑and‑greet with President Trump, after a historically‑big summit in Singapore, and that link is still humming in his mind.
X I’s Cheers and a Call to America‑North Korea
‘Great job on the summit, Mr. Kim,’ the Chinese leader Xi chirped. He also urged Washington and Pyongyang to actually carry out the pact they made in Singapore. “We’ll keep playing the constructive side of nuclear diplomacy,” Xi promised, as if he were radioing in a friendly reminder to a friend who’s forgetting to turn off the lights.
Was U.N. Sanctions on the Menu?
Both official newspapers stayed tight‑lipped on whether Kim and Xi swapped ideas about loosening the U.N. sanctions that have put North Korea’s economy in a bind. Analysts guess that was probably on the agenda, or they’d have to have a secret broth of negotiations that even senior researchers can’t sniff out.
Shin Bum‑Cheol’s Take
- Kim and Xi likely hunting for “common ground” after the Singapore summit.
- For China, North Korea is a “key card” if Beijing pokes about a trade war with the United States.
In short, the two leaders swapped smiles, talked big ideas, and left everyone wondering what comes next—maybe a new joint snack factory or a quiet pact to share the latest drone technology. Only time will tell.
North Korea & China: A Business‑and‑Diplomatic Tight‑Lace
In an unexpected chess move, North Korea is reaching out to its giant neighbor, China, for both economic nourishment and diplomatic armor.
Strategic Signals from the North
In a statement that could be read as a backstage rant, Shin told the world that Beijing is basically standing behind Pyongyang if the North’s shaky relationship with the US hits a wall: “For the North, it can also show to the world, especially the US, that Beijing has Pyongyang’s back if the North’s ties with the US sour in the future.”
Economic Bamboo for the Kimming Dynasty
While the peninsula keeps its eyes on the horizon, officials from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have already penciled in visits to China to study its road to prosperity—another reminder that Pyongyang is cashing in on Beijing’s green light.
“New Stage” for Socialist Dreams
From the East, Xi met with Kim, according to China’s Xinhua news agency, saying, “We are happy to see that the DPRK made a major decision to shift the focus to economic construction, and the development of the DPRK’s socialist cause has entered a new stage in history.”
UN Sanctions—The Latest Twist
China is playing hardball by backing United Nations sanctions on the North but also hinted last year that the UN Security Council might consider easing the punitive measures—like a reluctant compromise after a long debate over a spicy dish at a potluck.
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