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North Korea Puts Bright Face on China Visit, Despite Tensions
North Korea Overlooks Tensions After a Visit
(about 2 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 put a positive spin Saturday on 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.
An account by the official Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang, its first report on the visit by Vice Marshal Choe Ryong-hae, was at odds with portrayals in China’s state-run media, which stressed President Xi Jinping’s strongly worded appeal that North Korea rejoin the so-called international six-party talks that were abandoned in 2008 when North Korea 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 North’s news agency said the country’s 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.
While he was in Beijing, Vice Marshal Choe made general references to being open to dialogue but never specifically mentioned the six-party talks, which China sees as a way to cool tensions in the region that has contributed to the United States stepping up its presence.
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.
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’s moving toward North Korea’s prime adversaries in the coming month — the United States and South Korea.
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 behavior, including its recent nuclear test and firing of missiles, 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.
Park Geun-hye, the new South Korean leader, will later visit Beijing.
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.
The three-day trip by Vice Marshal Choe, possibly to try to set up a visit by Mr. Kim, seemed to do little to repair the troubled relations between China and North Korea, said Zhu Feng, a professor of international relations at Peking University.
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.
In the wake of the visit, China — the North’s economic benefactor — might make some humanitarian gestures, such as 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, especially when Vice Marshal Choe failed to take Mr. Xi’s lead on the six-party talks during their meeting.
“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, he said 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.
Even if Mr. Kim were to agree, analysts say the likelihood of a resumption of the six-party talks — which involved China, the United States, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and Russia — is remote. The Obama administration and South Korea have indicated that they would insist on a pledge from North Korea that it renounce nuclear weapons as a condition for resuming the talks, a demand the North has so far rejected.
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.
Mrs. Park of South Korea, who speaks Chinese and has spoken warmly of Mr. Xi, said that she and Mr. Xi can do business together on North Korea, an attitude that no doubt displeases Mr. Kim in the North.
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 would almost certainly be denied, possibly increasing pressure on him to cooperate more fully with China.
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.
“Kim Jong-un isn’t about to receive treatment that is even remotely equivalent,” to Ms. Park’s, 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.”
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. “
