North Korea and China are swiftly mending their relationship through letter diplomacy between their leaders, following the recent resumption of passenger trains and regular flights after a six-year hiatus. Analysts suggest that the need for diplomatic solidarity between Pyongyang and Beijing has intensified, particularly as a counterbalance to the U.S., with the upcoming U.S.-China summit in May looming on the horizon.
Rodong Sinmun Shines Unusual Spotlight on Chinese Art Troupe’s Visit to North Korea… Pyongyang’s Media Shifts Tone on Beijing
On March 29, the Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported that a Chinese art troupe will participate in the April Spring event commemorating the 114th birthday of Kim Il Sung (April 15). The paper noted that the development of the April Spring Friendship Art Festival, now in its 34th year, reflects the contributions of Chinese artists. It emphasized that these artistic exchanges, spanning generations, underscore the evolving North Korea-China friendship.
The report also highlighted that Rodong Sinmun journalists traveled to China to meet with Chinese artists, stating that it gained clear insight into their genuine aspirations to contribute to the development of friendly relations between the two nations.
The resurgence in North Korea-China relations has become particularly evident with the resumption of the Beijing-Pyongyang passenger train, which had been suspended for about six years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This train, officially inaugurated in 1954 and operating daily since 2013, once carried an average of over 250 passengers per day, serving as a symbolic asset in the history of North Korea-China exchanges.
Shortly after, Air China, the state-owned carrier, announced the resumption of direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on Monday, marking a return after a six-year hiatus. Experts interpret the normalization of major transportation routes between the two countries as a clear signal of their commitment to bolstering economic cooperation, particularly in tourism and trade.
Just days ago, President Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party, exchanged letters, directly expressing their mutual desire to further develop bilateral relations.
On March 26, President Xi sent a congratulatory message to General Secretary Kim, celebrating his recent reappointment as Chairman of the State Affairs Commission during the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly. Xi affirmed that safeguarding, consolidating, and advancing the North Korea-China relationship is the unwavering policy of the Chinese Party and government. In response, General Secretary Kim conveyed his deep appreciation on the 28th, assuring that he would continue to deepen and develop the North Korea-China friendly cooperative relationship.
On March 23, President Xi also dispatched a diplomatic letter congratulating General Secretary Kim on his reappointment during the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party. North Korea prominently featured this in Rodong Sinmun, further confirming the trend of recovering North Korea-China relations.
Post-Summit Thaw: North Korea-China Relations Warm as Xi-Trump Meeting Approaches
North Korea and China held a summit last September, where General Secretary Kim visited Beijing to meet with President Xi, commemorating the 80th anniversary of China’s wartime victory. Their side-by-side appearance at Tiananmen Tower fueled expectations of closer North Korea-China ties. However, concrete steps to improve relations only began to materialize six months after the summit. Experts attribute this delay to the impending U.S.-China summit.
Following General Secretary Kim’s sincere visit to China last September, North Korea harbored high hopes for its relationship with Beijing. However, when South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and President Xi showed signs of rapprochement during a South Korea-China summit in January, Pyongyang reportedly expressed disappointment and cooled its communication with China.
Nevertheless, as the U.S.-China summit approaches, analysts suggest that the strategic interests of North Korea and China have realigned. The U.S. and Chinese leaders are slated to meet in Beijing on May 14-15. Initially, President Donald Trump had planned to visit China from March 31 to April 2 for talks, but the schedule was postponed due to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on March 28.
China’s emphasis on its relationship with North Korea is seen as a strategic move to showcase its influence on Korean Peninsula issues during negotiations with the U.S. Observers note that Beijing is underscoring its crucial role as a mediator in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, a top priority for Washington.
Conversely, North Korea appears to be highlighting the increased barriers to dialogue amid ongoing discussions about potential U.S.-North Korea talks, signaling that the diplomatic landscape has become more challenging. While President Trump has consistently expressed willingness to engage with General Secretary Kim, North Korea’s recent calls for a new multipolar system suggest that Pyongyang aims to emphasize that discussions are no longer limited to bilateral communication with the U.S.
However, given the slightly differing motivations and contexts for North Korea and China’s mutual need, some analysts predict that the two countries may drift apart again once the U.S.-China summit concludes or if their interests diverge. It is unlikely that their relationship will evolve into a military and political alliance comparable to that between North Korea and Russia.
