Xi sidesteps denuclearization, offers North Korea four-point cooperation package

Chinese President Xi Jinping made no mention of denuclearization during his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Monday, instead presenting Pyongyang with a sweeping four-point cooperation package.

Analysts say Beijing calculated that stronger North Korea-China-Russia alignment is needed to counter the United States — combined with a strategic desire to check the deepening North Korea-Russia ties forged through Pyongyang's troop deployments to Ukraine — effectively pushing denuclearization off the table. North Korea, which has played China and Russia against each other to extract concessions while elevating its relationship with Beijing, hailed the summit as "a new milestone in the development of the two countries' strategic cooperative relationship."

According to China's Xinhua News Agency and KCNA, Xi arrived in Pyongyang around noon on Monday and held talks with Kim at the Kumsusan State Guesthouse. In his opening remarks, Kim said that "no matter how the situation changes, our party and government will fully support and back the policies and positions of the Chinese party and government in defending core interests on the basis of the one-China principle."

Xi put forward four proposals at the talks: consolidating high-level exchange guidelines and political mutual trust; deepening multifaceted exchanges and mutual learning; elevating practical cooperation and promoting the people's interests; and carrying forward traditional friendship and strengthening bonds between the two peoples. On elevating practical cooperation, Xi cited collaboration in economics, science and technology, and medical and public health. Japan's Asahi Shimbun noted that such cooperation is "essential for North Korea, which is struggling under international economic sanctions," adding that expanding people-to-people exchanges "would also lead to an increase in North Korea's foreign currency earnings."

The most significant concession Beijing offered Pyongyang, analysts said, was the complete absence of any reference to denuclearization.

Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun said the most striking difference between Xi's previous visit to Pyongyang in 2019 and this week's summit was the disappearance of the word "denuclearization," warning that it "could give the impression that China has tacitly accepted North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons" as Pyongyang continues to advance its nuclear and missile capabilities. The Yomiuri added that if US-North Korea talks resume, North Korea — emboldened by China's tacit approval — could "come out in a strong position."

Beijing's decision to emphasize cooperation with North Korea while avoiding any mention of denuclearization reflects a judgment that strengthening the North Korea-China-Russia axis is necessary for a coordinated response to the United States, analysts said. The Asahi assessed that Xi aims to maintain influence over North Korea so Pyongyang can serve as a bargaining chip in future US-China negotiations.

At a banquet held at Pyongyang's Mokran House following the summit, Kim said he would "guide Sino-Korean friendship to new heights and develop it into a model of the strongest and most strategic relations between socialist states."

In his response, Xi said "this year, China-North Korea relations stand at a new historic starting point," pledging to "develop China-North Korea relations at a high level, open up a more beautiful outlook for the socialist cause of the two countries, and promote the continuous progress of human society." He also stressed that "China and North Korea have always shared the same destiny, and the traditional China-North Korea friendship has a long history and is an undefeatable friendship."

A welcome performance for Xi was held at the Pyongyang gymnasium on Tuesday night, featuring North Korean and Chinese songs and acrobatic performances. KCNA reported that Kim and Xi presented flower baskets to the performers, and described the event as "a performance that beautifully decorated another page in the history of Sino-Korean friendship and solidarity."

On the second day of his visit Tuesday, Xi was expected to pay his respects at the Sino-Korean Friendship Tower — a symbol of North Korea-China friendship in Pyongyang — before having lunch with Kim and departing for home. Built in 1959, the tower commemorates Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers who died fighting in the Korean War; Chinese senior officials have laid flowers there on every visit to Pyongyang. North Korea appeared buoyed by the elevation of its ties with China. KCNA described the summit as "a historic occasion that demonstrated the immutability of the friendly relations between the two sides and set a new milestone in the development of the strategic cooperative relationship."

By Do Hyun-jung and Moon Hye-hyun