Chinese - North Korean Relations Are Deteriorating

Photo: FRIENDS NO MORE?: Incoming Chinese president Xi Jinping will have to cope with North Korea's increasingly antagonistic stance. Reuters

China Lashes Out At North Korea -- Zachary Keck, The Diplomat

China’s media offers withering criticism of North Korea as tensions mount between the erstwhile allies.

Tensions appear to be quickly mounting between the erstwhile allies North Korea and China.

Last week I noted that North Korea has reportedly begun hanging banners declaring that China is “a turncoat and our enemy” at its Kang Kon Military Academy. The characterization of China as a “turncoat and our enemy” was coined by Kim Il-Sung, North Korea’s eternal leader, in 1992 but has been invoked by Pyongyang on a number of occasions since to express its displeasure toward Beijing.

The feeling seems to be mutual these days, if the Global Times—a state-run Chinese newspaper—is any indication. As my colleague Shannon noted earlier today, the Global Times published an editorial on Thursday that contained unusually harsh criticism of North Korea. Although the editorial focused primarily on North Korea’s nuclear program, it also includes some other more general criticisms of Pyongyang. For example, it stated: “If Pyongyang continues to follow this [nuclear] path, it will suffer long-term isolation by the international community and the country’s poverty will never be eliminated. The risks these factors pose to the Pyongyang regime can hardly be offset even if North Korea truly becomes a nuclear state.” North Korea has been extremely critical of foreign leaders that characterize North Korea as being wrecked by poverty.

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My Comment: This cooling-off in relations has been ongoing since Chinese President Xi assumed office. To put it bluntly .... China's view of North Korea is now very simple .... the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has "jumped the shark". I will also wager good money that right now .... and I am speculating .... in the Chinese President's office there are discussions going on that are exploring options on what China can do to change the leadership and direction of the North Korean government that will also not implode the entire country. I will also wager that North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un is probably aware of these "discussions" .... and this explains why he is not only eliminating any possible political opponents .... but also purging those who have had close relations over the years with senior Chinese government officials.