China and North Korea: relations of the 21st century

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:42

There are so many problems, questions and mysteries in the political world that it is almost impossible to find all the answers. Every day we watch the news, we are taught history in schools, we hear the latest gossip from different corners. Information policy is really a terrible force! But how does it affect relations between countries? Take, for example, Asian countries. What is the relationship between North Korea and China? Are North Korea and China the same thing?

Backstory

As you know, China is one of the most powerful countries in the world. It is quite natural that North Korea will want to direct all its efforts to cooperation first with the PRC. Thus, since the 2000s, the DPRK has prioritized cooperation with the Republic of China.

This desire to become an ally of China was due to some of the difficulties experienced by North Korea when the United States came to power. And since the United States were allies of the main enemyNorth Korea - South Korea, this seriously complicated the situation.

As a result of official and informal meetings between representatives of the DPRK and China, the countries have become not only good allies, but also economic partners, which is beneficial for both sides.

North Korea

In order to analyze the connection between two well-known countries, it is necessary to understand what they are. Let's start with North Korea.

This country is known to everyone as isolated, untrustworthy and even feared. This is due to the unwillingness of the DPRK to contact other states. They have a completely different world, built on their own principles, laws and traditions. And, as noted by those who still managed to get into this mysterious country, some laws and customs are very surprising.

Take only the fact that they don't use computers there, residents don't have the Internet, and phones are taken away from foreigners at the airport.

Hunger and poverty they do not have as such. Yes, the situation in these areas is not ideal, but it does not reach a critical level. As it should be, according to the authorities, everything is relatively stable with this.

China and North Korea are completely different countries. How exactly they differ will become clear when we move on to China.

China

Powerful, huge, promising and incredible country - China. Connections around the world, rising to the highest level of trade and economy. Truly an amazing country.

It is only natural that North Korea would wantcooperate with a giant country. Moreover, the “giant” in this context is not at all about the territory. A weak and closed country from which people dream of escaping, although some do not even know how it is to exist in the ordinary world. This is the reputation North Korea has earned for itself.

It is very profitable to build relations with China, because in the event of problems, authority and power will suppress all misunderstandings.

China-North Korea relations

How was the relationship established between China and North Korea? What is the difference between these two countries and the rest of the world?

The fact is that in 1950, when the Korean War broke out, the Republic of China took the side of the DPRK. Soon, in 1951, they concluded an agreement on cooperation and friendship between the countries. China, in turn, promised to provide for everyone if necessary.

This agreement was extended twice - in 1981 and in 2001, because these relations were so important for both countries. To date, the contract has been concluded until 2021.

However, one should not forget about the six-party talks on the settlement of North Korea's nuclear program. China is directly involved in these negotiations. This did not interfere with diplomatic relations between China and North Korea, so in 2009 they celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their friendship. This year has been named the Year of Diplomatic Relations between China and North Korea.

But we won't end such a touching story on a positive note. As early as 2013, the Chinese Foreign Minister made a statement thatthat China opposes Korea's latest nuclear operation. What, in fact, was reported personally to the Ambassador of North Korea. So, on May 5 of the same year, the DPRK seized a Chinese fishing boat. As a ransom, they demanded about 100 thousand US dollars. Why not diplomatic relations?

Border

China and North Korea share a 1,416-kilometer border. It practically corresponds to the flow of two rivers - Tumannaya and Yalujiang. Until 2003, the countries had as many as six border crossings. Since November 2003, the border units have been replaced by army ones.

The border between China and North Korea has a 20-kilometer fence built in China. And in February 1997, it was decided to allow tourists to pass over the bridge, which was located on the border. This greatly increased the number of applicants - literally from 1,000 tourists to 100,000 in a year. This naturally influenced the construction of a bridge that connects North Korea and China in the cities of Mapo and Jian.

Territorial dispute

In 1963, Beijing and Pyongyang reached an agreement on the demarcation of the border. Even during the existence of the Soviet Union, the PRC tried with all its might to break out of international isolation. Moreover, China so wanted to win over the regime of Kim Il Sung that some provinces even began to protest certain actions of the Chinese authorities.

In "gratitude" for the help that China provided to the DPRK during the Korean War, the Chinese authorities demanded 160 square kilometers from North Korealands around Paektusan. In 1968-1969, skirmishes between Koreans and Chinese took place more than once against the backdrop of these events. But already in 1970, China abandoned all claims and misunderstandings in order to improve diplomatic relations with North Korea.

Economic relations

There are very interesting statistics here. While for North Korea, China is the largest supplier and representative in economic relations, in the PRC, North Korea ranks only 82nd. It is also worth noting that China provides almost half of the DPRK, and a quarter is exported. It is not surprising, a country as huge and powerful as China has much larger economic prospects than a small country on the Korean Peninsula.

What does North Korea import from China?

• Mineral fuels.
• Oil (China is North Korea's largest oil supplier).
• Vehicles.
• Cars.
• Plastic.
• Iron.
• Steel.

Military relations

As already stated, China has been a partner of North Korea for over 60 years. The DPRK found itself a very good and profitable partner.

It is also natural that with such a long cooperation, China was obliged to help Korea in the war. Yes, the Republic of China lost about 400,000 of its soldiers, many of whom were wounded, missing, died of wounds or disease.

It can be said that this is the price of suchlong friendly relations between countries. The DPRK and the PRC were firmly connected by the blood of the dead soldiers. Even if the relationship comes to an end, which is unlikely to happen, given that both countries are happy with everything, everyone will remember and honor those who defended people in the Korean War.

Here, such military relations between China and the DPRK. Only the Korean War played a major role.

Visits

Many today wonder how China managed to make the President of the DPRK for the first time (since 2011) leave his country. He personally came on an unofficial visit to China. Negotiations were held where Kim Jong-un congratulated the President of China on his re-election and discussed the situation with the Korean Peninsula.

"We wish to cooperate with our DPRK comrades to keep our focus on the future and move forward together, so we will promote long-term and he althy relations between countries and benefit our countries and our peoples, and lay the foundation peace, stability and development of the region," Xi Jinping said.

Relationship today

Unexpectedly, since 2017, one can note a strange, to some extent, chilled atmosphere in relations between China and the DPRK. This is primarily due to the fact that the PRC began to establish relations with South Korea. More than once some kind of relationship between Seoul and Beijing has been noticed.

However, Beijing has become colder towards Pyongyang for a reason. China was initially opposed to all nuclear tests, whichwere held in North Korea. But the ally did not take it seriously, and in September 2017 another experiment with nuclear weapons was carried out.

China reacted very negatively to this, the position became much tougher. An appeal was sent to the UN with a request to solve or at least influence the problem. Donald Trump resolutely stated that the DPRK is showing clear disrespect for the opinion of the world community and ignoring requests, advice and even threats.

China and North Korea relations at the global level have now reached a climax. Will this issue be resolved peacefully?

Despite all this, China and North Korea continue to keep diplomatic relations in a state of relative calm and order, which is why the US even allowed itself to express itself in the direction of the PRC in this way: "China succumbed." Is this really so - a complex and multilateral question, because it was China that initiated the UN meeting because of the dangerous experiments that were carried out in the DPRK.

Here, such events are taking place now in Asian countries. As we can see, China and North Korea are an example of a really long diplomatic relationship. And not only in diplomacy, but also in the economic sphere too. It can be said that the DPRK depends on Chinese supplies, and to a rather high degree.

What will happen in 2021 when the friendship treaty ends? Will it be extended or will such a long relationship of the 21st century between China and the DPRK end? The forecasts are generally positive, but who knows how the world of politics will turn out. Maybe,Will North Korea's stubbornness about nuclear experiments end this friendship?