An astonishing report has emerged from foreign media! Just after President Putin concluded his visit to China, foreign outlets claim that China is planning a high-level visit to North Korea with exceptional protocol! On May 21, Japan’s Sankei News cited sources stating that the visit to Pyongyang might take place in late May or early June. Meanwhile, South Korean government officials believe that if such a visit occurs, it would indicate China's intent to mediate between the United States and North Korea.
Of course, will this high-level visit to North Korea actually happen? It is entirely possible. In fact, last year, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un visited China to attend the September 3 military parade. Then, in April of this year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a visit to North Korea, meeting with Kim Jong-un. The high-level diplomatic exchanges between China and North Korea have been close and smooth, with bilateral trust continuously strengthening—laying a solid foundation for even higher-level meetings.
From our perspective, if such a high-level visit to North Korea were to proceed, there are three key implications: First, it would further consolidate Sino-North Korean relations, bring both sides closer together, deepen political mutual trust, and enhance cooperation across all fields. Second, it would undoubtedly help stabilize the situation in Northeast Asia. Indeed, in recent years, the coordination among U.S.-Japan, U.S.-South Korea, and Japan-South Korea relations has grown increasingly frequent, while the risk on the Korean Peninsula continues to rise. A direct visit by China would allow us to accurately assess North Korea’s position and core demands, timely coordinate positions among all parties, and prevent the situation from escalating uncontrollably.
Thirdly, U.S.-North Korea relations remain deeply adversarial and tense. The two sides lack effective communication channels. As a credible and influential third-party power, China can leverage this visit as an opportunity to play a mediating role. This would enable us to urge North Korea to exercise restraint and calmness, while also conveying rational messages to the United States. Such efforts would effectively counterbalance the aggressive actions of certain ambitious countries that are stirring up trouble. We believe that if this visit takes place, further information will be disclosed in due course.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865763722853387/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.