Recently, North Korea’s top leader Kim Jong Un referred to China as an “arch-enemy” in a speech, sparking discussions once again about the cooling of relations between China and North Korea. Political analysts have pointed out that the Kim regime does not trust the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and is only using China for its own purposes. On the other hand, the CCP considers itself as North Korea’s protector and provides economic assistance, but is cautious about giving too much support to North Korea, as it could pose a threat to China once North Korea becomes prosperous.
Multiple North Korean sources revealed to the South Korean newspaper, “Chosun Ilbo”, that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently referred to China, which has been increasing pressure on North Korea, as an “arch-enemy.” The specific context and target of Kim Jong Un’s remarks have not been confirmed, but it is believed that he expressed his dissatisfaction with China. Recently, China has intensified crackdown on smuggling activities related to North Korea, even detaining items used by Kim Jong Un known as the “Number 1 item” and refusing to return them.
Reports indicate that North Korea’s discontent with China has become more pronounced recently, with the country even failing to send diplomatic envoys to attend official Chinese events. Sources disclosed to South Korean media that during the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s 97th anniversary celebration held in Beijing on July 31, North Korea’s military attaché in China did not appear.
China had sent invitations to military attaché delegations from all embassies in China, including North Korea and South Korea. However, North Korea, a long-time “ally” of China, did not send a representative. Another source mentioned that North Korea was also absent from several military celebrations held by overseas Chinese embassies.
Earlier in March, a report released by Han Ki-sam, former deputy director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, stated that Kim Jong Un had previously referred to China as an “arch-enemy” in 2015, instructing not to make any concessions, no matter how small, because North Korea could survive without China.
Han Ki-sam pointed out that since Xi Jinping came into power in 2012, he visited South Korea before visiting North Korea in July 2014, breaking the tradition of Chinese leaders visiting North Korea before South Korea. Kim Jong Un perceived this as an act of “betrayal.”
After 24 years, Russian President Putin visited North Korea in June this year and signed a new “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement” with Kim Jong Un, pledging mutual support in the event of “aggression” against either party.
Compared to the further “closeness” between North Korea and Russia, signs of strain in the North Korea-China relationship have emerged. According to Chosun Ilbo, in July of this year, North Korea’s embassy in China issued a document conveying Kim Jong Un’s instructions, clearly stating that they should not act according to China’s wishes.
Various signs recently reflect the changes in the North Korea-China relationship. For instance, in May, North Korea strongly condemned the issue of “denuclearization” mentioned in the joint statement of the 9th South Korea-China-Japan Summit attended by Chinese leaders. In June, the symbol of “Sino-North Korean friendship,” a bronze footprint left by Kim Jong Un during his walk with Xi Jinping on the beach of Bangchuidao Island in Dalian in May 2018, was covered with asphalt. Additionally, there were rumors that China had repeatedly demanded North Korea to recall all its personnel working in China.
A report released in July by South Korea’s National Institute for Security Strategy suggested that North Korea may be trying to enter a “honeymoon period” with Russia through vigorous propaganda to make China concerned about its diminishing influence on North Korea.
Meanwhile, there are also signs of increased control over the Chinese community in North Korea. An informant revealed to Chosun Ilbo that North Korean authorities have recently started restricting the movement of Chinese nationals from their residential areas and controlling the entry and exit of North Korean residents to Chinese households.
Another source mentioned that in the past few months, North Korean authorities have prohibited residents and military personnel from watching Chinese movies, and there have been cases of confiscating U disks containing Chinese films.
Furthermore, the proportion of Chinese movies aired on North Korea’s Central Television and other official media has significantly decreased. Since Putin’s visit, North Korea has started to focus on broadcasting Russian films produced during the former Soviet era, further highlighting the delicate adjustment in North Korea’s relationships with China and Russia.
Not only does Kim Jong Un distrust China, but his father and the late former leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il, also did not trust China.
According to a US diplomatic cable leaked by WikiLeaks in January 2011, Kim Jong Il personally told the then chairman of Hyundai Group, Xuan Zheng’en, that he no longer trusted China. This statement came during a meeting between Kim Jong Il and Xuan Zheng’en in 2009.
At that time, North Korea had just conducted its second nuclear test, and instead of preventing UN sanctions on Pyongyang, China issued a statement strongly condemning North Korea’s nuclear test.
Despite Beijing and Pyongyang propagating a “blood-stained combat friendship” between the two countries over the years, and China being North Korea’s largest aid provider, even suffering significant casualties to support Kim Il Sung’s regime in the early 1950s during the Korean War, Pyongyang has always remained suspicious and wary of China. The North Korean regime has downplayed or even erased the sacrifices made by the Chinese army to save its regime over the years, while cracking down on what it perceives as pro-Chinese forces within North Korea.
On September 22, during an interview with Da Ji Yuan, Chen Pokong, a political analyst based in the US, stated that the Kim regime’s distrust of China dates back to history, as they are only using China. While China hopes to support North Korea and wants them to adopt a “cliff tactic” in confrontation with Western countries, they are also wary of North Korea becoming too powerful.
Chen Pokong highlighted that China sees itself as North Korea’s protector, providing long-term economic aid, but this assistance is only superficial. On one hand, China does not want the collapse of the North Korean regime as it would harm its interests; on the other hand, it refrains from providing excessive support to North Korea because if North Korea becomes prosperous, it will pose a threat to China.
He emphasized that Kim Jong Un and the North Korean regime have always been unruly and cannot be truly controlled by any country, as it is the essence of their regime.
Chen Pokong also mentioned that the relationship between China, North Korea, and Russia is extremely delicate, with Russia’s close cooperation with North Korea being seen as a demonstration against China, effectively taking away one of China’s allies. Despite the common perception in the West that Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran form an “Axis of Evil,” conflicts exist within this axis.
He stated that since these countries all have authoritarian systems, lack moral concepts and principles, this axis of evil is fundamentally unstable and could collapse instantly under certain external influences.