Opinion | Will China keeps its patience with North Korea in 2020?
- Beijing has supported Pyongyang in its quarrels with the US but the relationship looks set to come under renewed pressure
US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Kim Jong-un at the demilitarised zone in June bore little fruit. Further talks in October stalled and the hopes of denuclearisation in the restive state faded.
Pyongyang continued its short and medium-range missile testing throughout the year, and at the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee, Kim said Pyongyang must “take positive and offensive measures for fully ensuring the sovereignty and security of the country”.
It remains to be seen whether those words are a precursor to further missile tests and a bolstering of North Korea’s nuclear deterrent in 2020, or the commencement of harsh rhetoric against the US for failing to meet Kim’s end-of-year deadline.
And what about the role of China, Pyongyang’s only ally on the world stage? China views North Korea as an irritant, but the status quo suits Beijing for now. The “invincible friendship” between the two nations was hailed in October, as they celebrated 70 years of diplomatic ties.