Posted 4/11/2024, 4:13:18 AM
China Seeks to Bolster Ties with North Korea in High-Level Visit During Tense Times
- China's No. 3 leader Zhao Leji is visiting North Korea this week, the highest-level visit in 5 years, to kick off a "friendship year" marking 75 years of diplomatic ties
- The visit shows China's desire to strengthen relations with North Korea amid growing coordination between the US, Japan, and South Korea
- It comes as North Korea ramps up weapons testing and rhetoric and builds closer ties with Russia
- For China, the visit is a chance to exert influence and understand recent policy shifts by North Korea's secretive leadership
- China walks a fine line with North Korea - it's a critical economic lifeline but also wants to avoid regional instability from Pyongyang's nuclear development