Chinese Involvement in North Korea
When it comes to North Korea, one of the first countries to come to mind is China. This is because China has extensive ties with the secretive state and since its establishment in 1948, has been an important economic and diplomatic ally. From providing assistance with food shortages, infrastructure improvements and investments, to helping North Korea build its nuclear program, the two countries’ relations have played a crucial role in defining the state of the world today.
In 1950 when the Korean War started, China assisted North Korea in preventing the South from unifying with the North. This aligns with China’s longstanding policy of keeping North Korea separate from the South to prevent a unified, or ‘capitalist-oriented’ Korea that would be close both geographically and economically to Western countries. Since then, China has been an integral partner in North Korea’s political and economic development. During the Cold War, China provided North Korea with financial aid, fuel and weapons. And in 1994, when North Korea was struck by a famine, China helped by providing food and other supplies to the country.
China has also served as an economic anchor for North Korea. In recent years, the two countries have signed multiple economic agreements. This includes the China-DPRK Investment Agreement which gave China the right to invest up to US$2.2 billion in various projects in North Korea. These investments are expected to benefit sectors such as mining, infrastructure construction and tourism. Other agreements between the two countries focus on investment in energy, energy infrastructure, technology transfer and manufacturing.
Undoubtedly, the most controversial aspect of China and North Korea’s relationship is North Korea’s nuclear program. Beijing has been an active participant in the Six Party Talks, a negotiation process between North Korea, the United States, Japan, Russia and South Korea. China is generally seen as a stabilizing force, urging North Korea to bring its nuclear ambitions under control. But some experts have suggested that China may be providing North Korea with aid and other resources that help with its nuclear program.
In recent years, China has also sought to increase diplomatic ties with North Korea.
In 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first state visit to North Korea, the first by a Chinese leader in fourteen years. While there, he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and discussed strengthening bilateral ties
