North Korean and Chinese Leaders Emphasize 'Close Cooperation' and 'Denuclearization'

The official North Korean news agency reports that the leader of North Korea and the President of China discussed issues raised in the meeting between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump, emphasizing close cooperation between Pyongyang and Beijing, and the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsula. The North Korean leader has visited China for the third time in the past three months. During his first visit to Beijing after meeting with Donald Trump on June 19, he met and discussed with Xi Jinping, the President of China. According to the North Korean news agency, the leaders of the two countries exchanged views on the denuclearization issue. Kim Jong-un also emphasized cooperation with Chinese officials to achieve 'real peace' on the path to 'starting a new future' on the Korean Peninsula. The Chinese state news agency reported that its president stressed the 'very great importance of friendly cooperation between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea [North Korea].' Xi Jinping stated that 'regardless of international and regional conditions, the strong commitment of the People's Republic of China and its government to improving and advancing relations with North Korea will not change.' According to the North Korean news agency, Xi Jinping strongly supported our (Pyongyang's) position and commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and stated that his country will continue to play a constructive role in this process. The news agency further reported that Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping discussed 'common concerns, including the vision of denuclearization of the peninsula and reaching a consensus on the issues raised.' In the United States, the State Department reacted to this visit, with a spokesperson stating, 'We are closely monitoring it.' Heather Nauert, the State Department spokesperson, told reporters that after the meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore, there have been contacts between his administration and the North Korean government, but no plans for a visit to follow up on the Kim-Trump negotiations have been announced. Some analysts in South Korea say that Kim Jong-un's recent visit to China, on the eve of the start of North Korean and American negotiations regarding the denuclearization process of Pyongyang, is another sign of improving relations between the two sides and also explains the meeting that took place in Singapore. At the same time, there is speculation that China does not want to be sidelined during the discussions between Pyongyang and Washington and is trying to rebuild its usual alliance with North Korea. Although China is generally considered North Korea's main ally, the repeated missile and nuclear tests by North Korea in the past two to three years and Beijing's support for UN sanctions resolutions have strained these relations. The meeting between the North Korean leader and the US president took place on June 12 in Singapore; this meeting is considered historic as it was the first at the level of the leaders of the two countries. Following the negotiations, the two sides signed an agreement under which North Korea moves towards denuclearization, and the United States commits to providing security guarantees to North Korea.