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| North Korea Puts Bright Face on China Visit, Despite Tensions | North Korea Puts Bright Face on China Visit, Despite Tensions |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| BEIJING — North Korea gave a positive spin Saturday to the visit of its special envoy to China but made no mention of China’s push for the North to resume negotiations aimed at ridding the country of its nuclear weapons program. | BEIJING — North Korea gave a positive spin Saturday to the visit of its special envoy to China but made no mention of China’s push for the North to resume negotiations aimed at ridding the country of its nuclear weapons program. |
| An account by the official Korean Central News Agency in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, its first report on the visit by the envoy, Vice Marshal Choe Ryong-hae, was at odds with portrayals in China’s state-run media, which stressed the appeal by President Xi Jinping that North Korea rejoin the so-called six-party talks that were abandoned in 2008 when the North walked out. | |
| The news agency in Pyongyang said the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, whose belligerent behavior has annoyed China, sent a personal letter to Mr. Xi that referred to the deep friendship between the two allies that “cannot be exchanged for anything.” | The news agency in Pyongyang said the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, whose belligerent behavior has annoyed China, sent a personal letter to Mr. Xi that referred to the deep friendship between the two allies that “cannot be exchanged for anything.” |
| That phrase seemed to confirm the lack of interest by North Korea in the six-party talks. While he was in Beijing, Vice Marshal Choe made general references to dialogue but never specifically mentioned the six-party talks. | That phrase seemed to confirm the lack of interest by North Korea in the six-party talks. While he was in Beijing, Vice Marshal Choe made general references to dialogue but never specifically mentioned the six-party talks. |
| Chinese and American analysts said Saturday the visit by Vice Marshal Choe, a member of Mr. Kim’s inner circle, showed that North Korea was rattled by the prospect of China moving toward North Korea’s prime adversaries — the United States and South Korea — in the coming month in terms that may be unfavorable to the government in Pyongyang. | |
| President Obama and Mr. Xi are due to meet in California in early June, their first encounter since Mr. Xi assumed the presidency. How to deter North Korea’s recent belligerent behavior, like its recent nuclear testing and firing of missiles — and the instability it causes in North Asia — is certain to be one of the top topics. | President Obama and Mr. Xi are due to meet in California in early June, their first encounter since Mr. Xi assumed the presidency. How to deter North Korea’s recent belligerent behavior, like its recent nuclear testing and firing of missiles — and the instability it causes in North Asia — is certain to be one of the top topics. |
| The three-day visit by Vice Marshal Choe seemed to do little to repair the fractured relations between China and North Korea, said Zhu Feng, a professor of international relations at Peking University. | The three-day visit by Vice Marshal Choe seemed to do little to repair the fractured relations between China and North Korea, said Zhu Feng, a professor of international relations at Peking University. |
| In the wake of the visit, China might make some humanitarian gestures, like increasing food aid after it had been curtailed, Mr. Zhu said. But the fundamental split on the question of halting the nuclear program was striking, he said. | |
| Vice Marshal Choi did not mention the six-party talks when he met Thursday with Fan Changlong, the vice chairman of China’s powerful Central Military Commission, Mr. Zhu said. Then, when he met with Mr. Xi on Friday, he failed to take Mr. Xi’s lead on the six-party talks, Mr. Zhu added. | Vice Marshal Choi did not mention the six-party talks when he met Thursday with Fan Changlong, the vice chairman of China’s powerful Central Military Commission, Mr. Zhu said. Then, when he met with Mr. Xi on Friday, he failed to take Mr. Xi’s lead on the six-party talks, Mr. Zhu added. |
| “Obviously without denuclearization on the agenda, Beijing will not welcome Kim Jong-un’s visit,” Mr. Zhu said. | “Obviously without denuclearization on the agenda, Beijing will not welcome Kim Jong-un’s visit,” Mr. Zhu said. |
| Still, faced with Beijing’s demands, it was possible that Mr. Kim might come around. | Still, faced with Beijing’s demands, it was possible that Mr. Kim might come around. |
| “Choe’s visit was the positive consequence of Beijing’s tough face to Pyongyang, but it’s too early to say if the young leader will change his mind and embark on denuclearization negotiations,” Mr. Zhu said. | “Choe’s visit was the positive consequence of Beijing’s tough face to Pyongyang, but it’s too early to say if the young leader will change his mind and embark on denuclearization negotiations,” Mr. Zhu said. |
| The likelihood of a resumption of the six-party talks that involved China, the United States, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and Russia is remote, analysts said. The Obama administration has indicated it would insist on a pledge from North Korea that it renounce nuclear weapons as a condition for resuming the talks. South Korea has indicated that it would require a similar pledge. | The likelihood of a resumption of the six-party talks that involved China, the United States, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and Russia is remote, analysts said. The Obama administration has indicated it would insist on a pledge from North Korea that it renounce nuclear weapons as a condition for resuming the talks. South Korea has indicated that it would require a similar pledge. |
| In late June, the new leader of South Korea, Park Geun-hye, who speaks Chinese and has spoken warmly of Mr. Xi, will travel to Beijing on a state visit. She has said that she and Mr. Xi can do business together on North Korea, an attitude that no doubt displeases Mr. Kim in the North. | |
| Moreover, with a state visit to Beijing Ms. Park will be given the kind of pomp that Mr. Kim, a troublesome ally of China, would almost certainly be denied. That striking contrast may be what the Chinese want the North Korean leader to ponder. | Moreover, with a state visit to Beijing Ms. Park will be given the kind of pomp that Mr. Kim, a troublesome ally of China, would almost certainly be denied. That striking contrast may be what the Chinese want the North Korean leader to ponder. |
| One of the goals of Vice Marshal Choe’s mission was to persuade the Chinese to invite Mr. Kim to Beijing, as he has yet to come to China since assuming power at the end of 2011, analysts said. | One of the goals of Vice Marshal Choe’s mission was to persuade the Chinese to invite Mr. Kim to Beijing, as he has yet to come to China since assuming power at the end of 2011, analysts said. |
| “Kim Jung-un isn’t about to receive treatment that is even remotely equivalent,” to Ms. Park, said Jonathan D. Pollack, a Korea expert at the Brookings Institution. “But does that mean that Pyongyang is about to make any meaningful concessions that reduce the growing pressures directed against them? I detect no signs of this at all. “ |