As the relationship between North Korea and Russia continues to warm up, signs of estrangement between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and North Korea have emerged. According to South Korean media reports, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has personally designated the CCP as North Korea’s “archenemy.”
On Friday, September 20th, South Korea’s major newspaper, the “Chosun Ilbo,” cited several sources familiar with North Korea to report that Kim Jong-un recently referred to the CCP as the “archenemy” in response to increasing pressure from China.
This is a rare statement coming from North Korea, a country that has aligned itself with the CCP. The “Chosun Ilbo” analysis suggests that this may be related to recent tough measures taken by the Chinese authorities against North Korean smuggling activities, including seizing “number one goods” used personally by Kim Jong-un and refusing to return them.
In North Korea, Kim Jong-un’s personal statements are systematically propagated and implemented within the party and the military, becoming a code of conduct. This code largely determines the tone of North Korea’s relations with China.
Previously, North Korea has repeatedly not sent diplomatic envoys to official Chinese events, showing their discontent openly. In July of this year, Kim Jong-un issued a similar directive to North Korean diplomats in China, telling them not to worry about China’s feelings.
On July 31st, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense held a reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate the 97th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army, but North Korean military attachés in China did not attend.
China extended invitations to all military attachés stationed in China, including those from North Korea. South Korea also received an invitation and sent military attachés to attend the event.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Ambassador to North Korea, Wang Yajun, did not participate in a symbolic military parade held on July 27th in Pyongyang commemorating the 71st anniversary of the Korean War armistice. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that “Ambassador Wang is on holiday in China.”
Diplomatic sources commented that this contrasts sharply with North Korea’s previous active participation in various Chinese commemorative events.
This is not the first time Kim Jong-un has expressed dissatisfaction with China. Han Kibum, a former first and third vice director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service and a visiting researcher at the South Korean Eosan Policy Research Institute, stated in a report in March of this year that Kim Jong-un has previously referred to China as an “archenemy.”
According to the report, in early 2015, Kim Jong-un mentioned that “the United States and Japan are enemies of 100 years, but China is an enemy of 5000 years,” and stated, “Even without China, we can still survive, so even for minor issues, we cannot make any concessions.”
The report analyzes that in July 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited South Korea before going to North Korea, which Kim Jong-un saw as a “betrayal.” Subsequently, in 2015, Kim Jong-un set “expanding and developing relations with Russia” as a goal of his foreign policy.
On July 10th, the South Korean “Chosun Ilbo” quoted observers as saying that as Pyongyang strengthens its longstanding relationship with Russia, its ties with China are increasingly strained.
It was reported that starting from June 20th, North Korea stopped using Chinese satellites for television broadcasts and switched to Russian satellites. In July, Beijing authorities repeatedly requested Pyongyang to recall all North Korean workers dispatched to various parts of China (estimated to be tens of thousands).
The report also cited sources saying that as North Korea’s main ally and economic donor, China has also strengthened customs inspections of North Korean export goods and intensified efforts to combat suspected smuggling activities by North Korea.