Two-Day Visit of North Korean Leader to China

Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, June 19, marking his first foreign trip since meeting with the U.S. President. Last week, the leaders of North Korea and the U.S. committed in a statement to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, with the United States also providing security guarantees to North Korea. In an unusual move, Chinese state media announced the visit of the North Korean leader before its conclusion, whereas previously, such announcements were made only at the end of his trips. Reports indicate that the visit will last for two days, making it Kim's third trip to China in the past three months. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang stated in a daily press briefing, "We hope this meeting will help deepen China-North Korea relations, strengthen the strategic ties between the two countries on important issues, and contribute to regional peace and stability." He did not provide further details about the objectives of the visit. Despite differences between China and North Korea over missile and nuclear tests, China remains North Korea's most important diplomatic and economic supporter. On Tuesday, police presence was noticeable along the Chang'an Avenue leading to the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, where meetings between Chinese leaders and heads of other countries typically take place. On the same day, Noh Kyu-duk, a spokesman for the South Korean Foreign Ministry, stated that Seoul and Beijing agree on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean spokesman said, "Our government hopes that China will play a constructive role in resolving this issue," expressing hope that Kim's visit to China aligns with this goal. China has welcomed the warming relations between Washington and Pyongyang. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's decision to halt joint military exercises with South Korea has been assessed as a constructive and positive step by China. China has long been sensitive to the presence of U.S. forces and military exercises near its borders. Last week, following his meeting with the North Korean leader in Singapore, Trump stated that his ultimate goal is to withdraw U.S. forces from the Korean Peninsula, although he emphasized that troop withdrawal is not currently on Washington's agenda. The U.S. has nearly 30,000 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the Korean War. China has long advocated for a "suspension for suspension" approach, where the U.S. would suspend its military exercises while North Korea would halt its missile and nuclear tests. Following the meeting of the U.S. and South Korean leaders, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman stated that the remarks from the U.S. and North Korean leaders indicate that "suspension for suspension" is an achievable idea.