Kim Jong Un Tries a Short China Stopover After Singapore Summit
Quick Glimpse of the Travel
- When: Tuesday‑Wednesday, 2024‑02‑15.
- Where: Beijing, China.
- Duration: Just two days—like a weekend blitz.
- Why: He’s hunting for a sweet deal on sanctions while promising to drop his nuclear guns.
What China and the World Think
China’s state TV didn’t spill the tea, but it confirmed Kim’s presence, hinting that he might be hoping domestic giants will lift the economic shackles. “China could allow a softer UN Security Council stance,” a Nikkei dispatch said, putting Beijing at the trading table.
Inside the Diplomatic Whirlwind
- A high‑ranking North Korean official—maybe Kim himself—was slated to jet into Beijing.
- Three days earlier, a freight plane that carried Kim to Singapore’s summit landed in China, proving that logistics matter even when nuclear talk sparks.
- Air Koryo’s Beijing flight—Kim’s usual ride—got a bit of a delay, a Paris‑Normandy ‑no‑reason pause that usually screams “Here’s the leader, please treat brilliantly.”
The Singapore Aftermath and Its Ripple Effects
Weeks back, a historic US‑North Korea summit in Singapore set the stage for the new narrative: complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. Trump’s handshake with Kim was hyped, but critics said the pledge was another fancy phrase, not a reality‑checking break‑away. In a nice counter‑move, Trump pulled the plug on joint drills with South Korea—an action that China and Pyongyang had been boss‑y about for years.
Militaries Gone Quiet
With the US giving the cease‑fire signal, the U.S. and South Korean forces announced they’d cancelled the upcoming joint exercises—a neat, silent nod to the new politics rolling out of the Shanghai haze.
In Short
Kim Jong Un’s quick China detour is less about the trip and more about the tug‑of‑war between sanctions, diplomacy, and the persistent hope that one day North Korea can ditch its nuclear stash, all while drumming up Beijing’s backing. We’re watching the drama unfold, hoping the next headline reads: “Kim’s Finally Done with Nukes—”
