{"id":7159,"date":"2026-06-08T15:35:41","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T15:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/06\/08\/north-korea-needs-china-for-survival-why-does-beijing-need-pyongyang\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T15:35:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T15:35:41","slug":"north-korea-needs-china-for-survival-why-does-beijing-need-pyongyang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/06\/08\/north-korea-needs-china-for-survival-why-does-beijing-need-pyongyang\/","title":{"rendered":"North Korea needs China for survival: Why does Beijing need Pyongyang?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p>China\u2019s President Xi Jinping has arrived in Pyongyang on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2026\/6\/5\/chinas-xi-headed-to-north-korea-in-bid-to-shore-up-ties\">his first overseas trip this year<\/a> as he aims to boost ties with North Korea, a reclusive nuclear-armed nation opposed to US military expansion in the Asia Pacific region.<\/p>\n<p>During Xi\u2019s two-day visit, \u201cboth sides will use the visit as an opportunity to promote greater development of China-North Korea relations in keeping with the times\u201d, China\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs\u00a0spokesperson Mao Ning told a press briefing on Friday.<\/p>\n<section>\n<h2>Recommended Stories <\/h2>\n<p><span>list of 3 items<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>list 1 of 3<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/video\/counting-the-cost\/2026\/6\/2\/china-opens-its-markets-to-african-exports-who-benefits\">China opens its markets to African exports. Who benefits?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span>list 2 of 3<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2026\/6\/3\/uk-china-ice-age-thaws-why-the-west-needs-beijing\">UK-China \u2018ice age\u2019 thaws: Why the West needs Beijing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span>list 3 of 3<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/economy\/2026\/6\/3\/us-cites-forced-labour-concerns-as-grounds-for-new-tariffs\">US cites forced labour concerns as grounds for new tariffs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p>The visit, Xi\u2019s first in seven years, also comes at a time when North Korea has strengthened relations with Russia, its northern neighbour.<\/p>\n<p>North Korea\u2019s ties to China go back to the Korean War more than 70 years ago. North and South Korea are technically still at war, as the conflict ended in an armistice in 1953. More than 28,000 US soldiers are still deployed in South Korea.<\/p>\n<p>So, what do China and North Korea\u2019s relations look like? And why has China, the world\u2019s second-largest economy, cultivated close ties with an isolated country like North Korea?<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what we know:<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-close-are-china-north-korea-ties\">How close are China-North Korea ties?<\/h2>\n<p>The two countries\u2019 relations began after World War II, when China helped North Korea fend off South Korean forces backed by US and UN forces in the early 1950s. Between 200,000 and 400,000 Chinese soldiers were killed. In 1961, Beijing and Pyongyang signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance under which China is obliged to intervene militarily if North Korea is attacked.<\/p>\n<p>Despite close Beijing-Pyongyang ties, China improved economic relations with South Korea in the 1980s, according to a 2024 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/backgrounders\/china-north-korea-relationship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> by the Council on Foreign Relations, a US think tank.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, China also repeatedly opposed North Korea\u2019s nuclear ambitions, straining relations.<\/p>\n<p>China opposed North Korea\u2019s first nuclear test in 2006 and dubbed it a \u201cflagrant and brazen\u201d move, according to a 2017 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/news\/china\/diplomacy-defence\/article\/2109692\/how-china-responded-previous-north-korean-nuclear-tests\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).<\/p>\n<p>In 2009, when the United Nations adopted sanctions against North Korea because of its nuclear programme, China\u2019s ambassador to the UN at the time, Zhang Yesui, said Beijing was in favour of the sanctions resolution since Pyongyang\u2019s actions were in \u201cdisregard for the international community\u2019s common objective\u201d, SCMP reported. In 2013 and 2016 as well, China condemned North Korea\u2019s nuclear testing programmes.<\/p>\n<p>However, since 2018, Beijing has been trying to repair ties with Pyongyang, which also began improving its relations with Washington.<\/p>\n<p>In March 2018, Xi invited Kim to China for talks where they discussed the situation in the Korean Peninsula. According to a March 2018 report by the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, President Xi said China was eager to safeguard the peninsula and sought to achieve its denuclearisation. Kim said he was \u201ccommitted to denuclearisation\u201d of the peninsula as well.<\/p>\n<p>Months later, United States President Donald Trump met Kim in Singapore, with a focus on denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.<\/p>\n<p>Xi travelled to Pyongyang for the first time in June 2019. Two years later, the two countries renewed their 1961 defence treaty for another 20 years.<\/p>\n<p>Last September, Kim visited China as a guest at its massive military parade. He travelled to the Chinese capital on his signature green armoured train.<\/p>\n<p>Analysts say China is cautious of the budding relationship between North Korea and Russia. North Korean soldiers have fought alongside Russia after Moscow and Pyongyang signed a mutual defence pact in the wake of the Ukraine war. Putin visited Pyongyang in 2024 after a gap of 24 years, aimed at boosting defence ties.<\/p>\n<p>Alejandro Reyes, adjunct professor in the department of politics and public administration at the University of Hong Kong, told Al Jazeera that one of the most significant geopolitical shifts of recent years has been the deepening Russia-North Korea relationship.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKim Jong Un now has more room to manoeuvre internationally than he did a decade ago. Xi\u2019s visit is partly a reminder that while Russia may be an increasingly important partner, China remains North Korea\u2019s indispensable neighbour,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the same time, it would be a mistake to overstate Beijing\u2019s anxiety. Russia can expand North Korea\u2019s options, but it cannot replace China\u2019s geographic, economic and political importance,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Russia and China have also come closer in the wake of Moscow\u2019s war on Ukraine.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-much-does-north-korea-depend-on-china\">How much does North Korea depend on China?<\/h2>\n<p>North Korea is one of the world\u2019s most isolated and poorest nations. According to an August 2025 report by the Bank of Korea, the South\u2019s central bank, North Korea\u2019s gross domestic product (GDP) reached $26.6bn in 2024, an increase of 3.7 percent from the previous year. South Korea, on the other hand, has made great strides in economic growth, emerging as a major tech and shipbuilding hub. Its GDP in 2024 stood at approximately $1.88 trillion.<\/p>\n<p>North Korea has largely been isolated from global trade due to UN sanctions over its nuclear programme. China \u201caccounts for as much as 95 percent\u201d of trade with North Korea, according to the Washington, DC-based think tank, the National Committee on North Korea.<\/p>\n<p>Exports from China to North Korea include petroleum, food, textiles, machinery and vehicles. China imports cosmetic products like fake eyelashes, hair wigs, iron and steel, frozen fish and some manufactured food items.<\/p>\n<p>Bilateral trade stands at $2.74bn, according to data from China\u2019s General Administration of Customs.<\/p>\n<p>North Korea also sends a lot of its citizens to work in China\u2019s fisheries and construction sectors. Rights groups say some of the North Korean workers face exploitation.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, China has also been working on improving infrastructure and transport projects with North Korea. In 2015, it opened a shipping route as well as a high-speed rail link with North Korea, the Council on Foreign Relations said.<\/p>\n<p>Dylan Loh, an associate professor in the public policy and global affairs programme at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, told Al Jazeera that North Korea has historically relied on China as its economic lifeline, supporting its economy and has been its top trading partner by far for a long time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut beyond relying on Beijing for trade, the DPRK gains international legitimacy and protection from its relationship with China. China is essentially North Korea\u2019s security guarantor,\u201d he said, using the acronym for the country\u2019s official name.<\/p>\n<p>Reyes from the University of Hong Kong said for Kim, maintaining good relations with Beijing is ultimately a matter of regime security.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile Russia\u2019s importance with North Korea has grown dramatically through military cooperation and support linked to the war in Ukraine, Russia cannot replace China economically,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMoscow can provide weapons technology, energy and diplomatic backing. Beijing provides economic lifelines, geographic access and long-term strategic stability,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChina also provides political protection. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and North Korea\u2019s only treaty ally, Beijing remains the one major power capable of helping Pyongyang navigate sanctions, regional diplomacy and any future opening to the outside world,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-does-china-need-north-korea\">Why does China need North Korea?<\/h2>\n<p>According to a November 2024 report by the Council on Foreign Relations, China primarily needs North Korea since it seeks to maintain stability in the Korean Peninsula. \u201cXi\u2019s Korea policy is focused on preventing a Kim regime collapse and on avoiding a potential unwanted war in the region, which could undermine China\u2019s security interests,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n<p>Loh said North Korea also acts as an important buffer against US troops stationed in South Korea. There are approximately 28,500 US soldiers stationed in South Korea as part of the Mutual <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2025\/11\/4\/us-eyes-troop-flexibility-increased-defence-spending-in-south-korea\">Defense Treaty<\/a> between Washington and Seoul, established after the Korean War armistice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith North Korea\u2019s nuclear ambitions, Beijing will also want to ensure that its own interests and the safety of its citizens near North Korea do not get threatened,\u201d Loh added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBeyond instrumental calculations, there is that shared history forged in the Korean War and the historically strong party-to-party ties,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific at French investment bank Natixis, shared a similar view.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChina needs North Korea as a strategic buffer, not an ally. It keeps US troops off China\u2019s border and prevents a chaotic collapse that would send millions of refugees into China and hand Washington more influence in Asia,\u201d she told Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"reasserting-control\">\u2018Reasserting control\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Herrero emphasised that Xi\u2019s visit to North Korea is all about tactical power politics.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChina is reasserting control as North Korea drifts toward Russia and wants to remain the gatekeeper if Trump tries to cut a deal with Kim,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cXi rarely leaves China. This trip shows Beijing is locking down its northeastern flank amid rising US and Russian pressure,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p>Reyes argued that there are also tentative signs that diplomatic channels are being tested in the region, which is pushing China to improve ties with North Korea.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRecent speculation surrounding Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan\u2019s visit to Pyongyang has prompted discussion about whether regional actors are quietly assessing North Korea\u2019s openness to future engagement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSingapore occupies a unique position because of its role in hosting the 2018 Trump-Kim <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ENNgOFlSWGo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">summit<\/a> and its ability to maintain productive relations with Washington, Beijing and Pyongyang. That should not be overstated,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe United States already possesses direct channels to North Korea, and there is little evidence that Pyongyang is actively seeking a major diplomatic breakthrough with Washington at present,\u201d he said, adding that the US-Israel war on Iran may also reinforce Kim\u2019s preference to keep communication channels available while avoiding becoming the focus of US strategic attention.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cXi\u2019s visit is therefore about more than Russia or bilateral ties. It is about positioning China for a regional environment in which North Korea is more confident, more connected to Moscow, more convinced of the value of nuclear deterrence, and potentially entering a new phase of strategic calculation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>China\u2019s President Xi Jinping has arrived in Pyongyang on his first overseas trip this year as he aims to boost ties with North Korea, a reclusive nuclear-armed nation opposed to US military expansion in the Asia Pacific region. During Xi\u2019s two-day visit, \u201cboth sides will use the visit as an opportunity to promote greater development &#8230; <a title=\"North Korea needs China for survival: Why does Beijing need Pyongyang?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/2026\/06\/08\/north-korea-needs-china-for-survival-why-does-beijing-need-pyongyang\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about North Korea needs China for survival: Why does Beijing need Pyongyang?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7160,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7159"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7159\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pronews.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}