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Andrea Chen

China has subtly shifted its stance towards North Korea as it tries to improve ties strained over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes and rein in its young leader from taking more provocative steps, analysts say.
China’s fifth-ranked official Liu Yunshan prioritised the stability of the Korean Peninsula over denuclearisation issues as he spoke to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his visit to Pyongyang last week to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the country’s ruling party.
READ MORE: Holding hands with top Chinese official, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un tells the world that Beijing stands by his side
“China upholds the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula,” Liu said before he briefly touched on denuclearisation.
Liu’s remarks signalled Beijing’s shift in stance, said Jilin University’s Professor Sun Xingjie. “Liu reversed the order of the two issues in Beijing’s long-held official line on North Korea.”
Just last month in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, President Xi Jinping still stressed denuclearisation over regional stability. But in a congratulatory message to Kim last week, Xi made no mention of the nuclear programme, saying simply that Beijing hoped to work with Pyongyang to pursue peace.

“Beijing’s bottom line now is that Kim must not go any further on the [nuclear or missile] tests. Part of Liu’s mission in Pyongyang was also to warn Kim against doing so,” Sun said.
China affairs expert Lee Jung-nam, from Korea University’s Asiatic Research Institute, said Beijing’s attempt to mend fences with Pyongyang was also to rebalance its stance between the North and the South.
“If not for Liu’s attendance [at the Pyongyang event], Kim would seem isolated,” Lee said.
WATCH: N. Korea primes its capital for military spectacular
Possibly in return for Beijing gracing the anniversary event, Kim made no mention of his nuclear programmes in his speech. He also did not launch any satellite or long-range rocket during the military parade, contrary to Western analysts’ expectations.
“But we need to wait and see whether Beijing has successfully talked Kim out of a launch,” Lee said. “It would be a loss of face for Beijing if Kim launched [a satellite or rocket] during South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s US visit later this week.”
 


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North Korea

China shifts focus in North Korea to regional stability as denuclearisation takes backseat

North Korean leader Kim JOng-un (front) and China's Liu Yunshan wave to the crowd in Pyongyang. Photo: EPA

Liu Yunshan (left) and Kim Jong-un share a handshake. Photo: Reuters

Holding hands with top Chinese official, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un tells the world that Beijing stands by his side  

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) and senior Chinese Communist Party official Liu Yunshan wave to the crowd during the parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, in Pyongyang. Photo: Reuters

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, third from left, along with Liu Yunshan, China's Communist Party's No. 5 leader, fourth from left, salutes during the ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the country's ruling party in Pyongyang.  Photo: KRT

Infantry troops carrying 'nuclear packs' march through Kim Il-sung Square. Photo: EPA

And lots of goose-stepping.  Photo: Reuters

Trucks carry drones during the parade.  Photo: Reuters

There were plenty of tanks to show off.  Photo: EPA


Let's be friends and help world peace, Chinese president Xi Jinping tells Kim Jong-un

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un waves to a crowd from a bus while inspecting a newly-built village at Paekhak-dong in Sonbong District. Photo: AFP

Communist Party chief Xi Jinping has sent congratulations to his North Korea counterpart Kim Jong-un on the Workers' Party anniversary. Photo: Reuters

China urges North Korea not to take provocative action

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) visiting Rason City. North Korea's readiness to fire a long-range rocket next month is seen as a pretext for testing ballistic missile technology banned under UN resolutions. Photo: AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warns North Korea that taking any new action would heighten regional tensions. Photo: AP

A photo released by the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers Party this June shows a new type of anti-ship rocket, deployed at the North's naval units. Photo: EPA

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