Attention is paid to China’s role during Kim Jong-un’s visit to China… Mediation in North Korea-US talks? Strengthening influence over North Korea?

(Shanghai/Beijing = Yonhap News) Correspondent Cha Byeong-seop and Jeong Seong-jo = Amid rumors of a North Korea-US summit around the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China next month, attention is focused on China's role as North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un made a surprise visit to China on the 24th (local time).

According to government sources, Chairman Kim arrived in Dandong, Liaoning Province, China, via the recently opened New Yalu River Bridge, a day before the anniversary of China's participation in the Korean War.

Accordingly, there is an assessment that the timing and location of this visit can be used to gauge China's 'strategy' regarding North Korea.

First of all, this visit took place in a situation where U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 19th that he had "no idea" about the possibility of a North Korea-US summit, signaling a change from his remarks in August when he said he would meet with Chairman Kim within the year. Reuters later reported that South Korean and U.S. officials assessed the possibility of holding a North Korea-US summit within the year as very low.

In this situation, attention is also focused on the possibility that China will attempt to act as a 'mediator' to promote the resumption of normal diplomacy between North Korea and the United States.

Previously, Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a U.S. think tank, evaluated in a report that China could take steps to promote the resumption of summit diplomacy between the United States and the United States.

The interpretation is that China is trying to win President Trump's favor while simultaneously checking Russia's influence on North Korea, which has expanded due to its close ties with North Korea.

In addition, China needs to be wary of the expansion of U.S. influence over North Korea and strengthen its relationship with North Korea.

In fact, Chairman Kim visited China four times between 2018 and 2019 during the first phase of North Korea-US dialogue during the Trump administration.

At the time, there were concerns about 'China passing' as Chairman Kim held a direct summit with South Korea and the United States, but China was assessed to have confirmed its influence on North Korea by providing a diplomatic 'safeguard' to North Korea through the North Korea-China summit.

As North Korea has supported Russia in the Ukraine war in recent years and North Korea and Russia have become closer than ever, there is talk of the possibility that China will use the 'economic cooperation' card to balance the situation.

In this process, there is a possibility that expansion of people-to-people exchanges through the New Yalu River Bridge will be discussed.

During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea last June, the possibility of Chinese people resuming group tours to North Korea was discussed, but it did not materialize. There are observations that the effect of the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge will be greater only when human exchanges as well as cargo logistics are normalized.

Meanwhile, it is also an opportunity for China to confirm its socialist solidarity with North Korea ahead of the anniversary of its participation in the Korean War.

China entered the Korean War on October 19, 1950, and designated October 25, when it achieved its first victory, as the anniversary of its anti-American assistance (supporting North Korea against the United States).

North Korea and China recently exchanged congratulatory messages and exchanges on the occasion of China's National Day (National Day), emphasizing 'solidarity'.

Kang Joon-young, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, interpreted this visit to China, saying, "It's like a tantalizing tactic in a situation where President Trump continues to want to hold talks with North Korea." He added, "It confirms China's support and at the same time dispels China's concerns."

Kim Dong-gil, a professor at Peking University, responded to the observation that the possibility of dialogue between North Korea and the United States has increased, saying, "I think the possibility is very low. From China's perspective, they will not present North Korea, which is a useful card to keep the United States in check, in this situation."