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What Kim Jong-un May Get in Reaching Out to China What Kim Jong-un May Get in Reaching Out to China
(about 20 hours later)
BEIJING — A flurry of activity and speculation surrounding Beijing’s diplomatic quarter on Tuesday accompanied what officials described as an unusual, and highly secretive, visit by North Korean dignitaries, possibly even the country’s youthful leader, Kim Jong-un. BEIJING — A flurry of activity and speculation surrounding Beijing’s diplomatic quarter on Tuesday accompanied what officials described as an unusual, and highly secretive, visit by North Korea’s youthful leader, Kim Jong-un.
The prospect of a high-level visit from North Korea — even a meeting with China’s leader, Xi Jinping — raised questions about what Mr. Kim hopes to accomplish with this latest, unexpected burst of diplomacy after years of provocative threats punctuated by nuclear and ballistic missile tests. The prospect of a high-level visit from North Korea — including a meeting with China’s leader, Xi Jinping — raised questions about what Mr. Kim hopes to accomplish with this latest, unexpected burst of diplomacy after years of provocative threats punctuated by nuclear and ballistic missile tests.
Mr. Kim, while educated in Switzerland, had never previously traveled abroad since becoming North Korea’s leader in 2011. Nor has he met another head of state.Mr. Kim, while educated in Switzerland, had never previously traveled abroad since becoming North Korea’s leader in 2011. Nor has he met another head of state.
A visit to Beijing could capitalize on the relative success of North Korea’s diplomacy around the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, last month.A visit to Beijing could capitalize on the relative success of North Korea’s diplomacy around the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, last month.
A delegation led by Mr. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, and the North’s nominal head of state, Kim Yong-nam, put on a charm offense at the Games that led to direct talks with the South Koreans and the extraordinary offer to meet directly with President Trump.A delegation led by Mr. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, and the North’s nominal head of state, Kim Yong-nam, put on a charm offense at the Games that led to direct talks with the South Koreans and the extraordinary offer to meet directly with President Trump.
With his power at home secure and the country’s nuclear program (perhaps) completed, Mr. Kim appears to have the confidence to emerge as a recognized, if not yet respected player on the international scene, a crowning achievement for an ambitious young leader.With his power at home secure and the country’s nuclear program (perhaps) completed, Mr. Kim appears to have the confidence to emerge as a recognized, if not yet respected player on the international scene, a crowning achievement for an ambitious young leader.
China has long been North Korea’s ally and patron, a lifeline keeping its struggling economy afloat. Relations between the two, though, have become increasingly strained, and Mr. Kim’s government needs Beijing’s help in emerging from its international isolation.China has long been North Korea’s ally and patron, a lifeline keeping its struggling economy afloat. Relations between the two, though, have become increasingly strained, and Mr. Kim’s government needs Beijing’s help in emerging from its international isolation.
China, evidently frustrated by the provocative behavior of its junior partner, has joined the United States and others in tightening sanctions, imposed in response to the North’s nuclear and missile tests. Mr. Kim has yet to meet his Chinese counterpart, and as he heads into direct talks with the United States and South Korea, he could use all the diplomatic support he can get.China, evidently frustrated by the provocative behavior of its junior partner, has joined the United States and others in tightening sanctions, imposed in response to the North’s nuclear and missile tests. Mr. Kim has yet to meet his Chinese counterpart, and as he heads into direct talks with the United States and South Korea, he could use all the diplomatic support he can get.
At a minimum, Mr. Kim cannot afford to deliver a diplomatic snub to an increasingly assertive and confident Mr. Xi by bypassing him during the coming talks with Seoul and Washington.At a minimum, Mr. Kim cannot afford to deliver a diplomatic snub to an increasingly assertive and confident Mr. Xi by bypassing him during the coming talks with Seoul and Washington.
It is not yet clear who initiated the visit, but China, for its part, has been left on the sidelines in the recent diplomatic breakthroughs — at least publicly. China, which initiated the visit, had been left on the sidelines in the recent diplomatic breakthroughs.
If talks progress, Chinese officials would certainly want to reclaim a central role in the diplomatic maneuvering to protect the country’s own strategic interests on the Korean Peninsula.If talks progress, Chinese officials would certainly want to reclaim a central role in the diplomatic maneuvering to protect the country’s own strategic interests on the Korean Peninsula.
“China worries about being bypassed by North Korea and Trump,” said Shen Zhihua, a prominent historian in China. “China fears some collusion and fears its interests being disregarded.”“China worries about being bypassed by North Korea and Trump,” said Shen Zhihua, a prominent historian in China. “China fears some collusion and fears its interests being disregarded.”
With increasing signs that the sanctions have begun to hurt in North Korea, Mr. Kim may have realized that he cannot survive a sustained economic squeeze.With increasing signs that the sanctions have begun to hurt in North Korea, Mr. Kim may have realized that he cannot survive a sustained economic squeeze.
A high-profile diplomatic foray — coupled with a suspension of provocative statements and new weapons tests — should at a minimum avoid new sanctions and buy time for the economy.A high-profile diplomatic foray — coupled with a suspension of provocative statements and new weapons tests — should at a minimum avoid new sanctions and buy time for the economy.
Mr. Kim could also seek an easing of sanctions as a concession for continuing talks. China and Russia, as previous negotiations have shown, may be less willing than the United States to punish the North if it commits to diplomacy.Mr. Kim could also seek an easing of sanctions as a concession for continuing talks. China and Russia, as previous negotiations have shown, may be less willing than the United States to punish the North if it commits to diplomacy.
“He’s playing one superpower against another,” said Xia Yafeng, a historian at Long Island University.“He’s playing one superpower against another,” said Xia Yafeng, a historian at Long Island University.
One of the first things Mr. Kim promised to his people when he took power was not to force them to “tighten their belts again.”One of the first things Mr. Kim promised to his people when he took power was not to force them to “tighten their belts again.”
Now that he claims he has nuclear missiles capable of hitting their country’s archenemy, the United States, he needs to focus on rebuilding the economy, and for that he needs the help of China and its vast market.Now that he claims he has nuclear missiles capable of hitting their country’s archenemy, the United States, he needs to focus on rebuilding the economy, and for that he needs the help of China and its vast market.
“To the North Koreans, improving ties with South Korea is important, but more important and urgent is improving ties with China,” said Cheong Seong-chang, a senior analyst at the Sejong Institute, a South Korean research organization.“To the North Koreans, improving ties with South Korea is important, but more important and urgent is improving ties with China,” said Cheong Seong-chang, a senior analyst at the Sejong Institute, a South Korean research organization.