In the political world there are so many problems, questions and secrets that it is almost impossible to find all the answers. Every day we watch the news, history is taught in schools, we hear the latest gossip from different parts of the world. Information policy is truly a terrible force! But how does it affect relations between countries? Take, for example, Asian countries. What is the relationship between North Korea and China? Is DPRK and China the same thing?
Background
As you know, China is one of the most powerful countries in the world. It is only natural that North Korea will want to direct all its efforts to cooperation first with the PRC. Thus, since the 2000s, the DPRK has been putting priority on the direction of cooperation with the Republic of China.
This desire to become an ally to China was associated with some of the difficulties North Korea experienced when the United States came to power. And since the United States was allies to the main enemy of the DPRK - South Korea, this seriously complicated the situation.
As a result of official and informal meetings between representatives of the DPRK and China, the countries have become not only good allies, but also economic partners, which is beneficial for both sides.
North Korea
In order to analyze the relationship between the two famous countries, it is necessary to understand what they are. Let's start with North Korea.
This country is known to all as an isolated, not credible and even fearful country. This is due to the reluctance of the DPRK to communicate with other states. They have a completely different world, built on their principles, laws and traditions. And, as noted by those who still managed to get into this mysterious country, some laws and customs are very surprising.
Take only the fact that they do not use computers there, residents do not have the Internet, and at the airport phones are taken from foreigners.
They do not have hunger and poverty as such. Yes, the situation in these areas is not ideal, but it does not reach a critical level. As it should be, according to the authorities, everything is relatively stable with this.
China and the DPRK are different countries, and absolutely. What exactly is their difference, it will become clear when we move to China.
China
A powerful, huge, promising and incredible country - China. Connections around the world, top-notch trade and economics. Indeed, an amazing country.
It is only natural that North Korea wants to work with a giant country. Moreover, the "giant" in this context is not about the territory. A weak and closed country from which people dream of escaping, although some do not even know how it is to exist in the ordinary world. Here is the reputation the DPRK has earned for itself.
It is very beneficial to build relations with China, because when problems arise, authority and power will crush all misunderstandings.
Sino-North Korean relations
How, then, were relations established between China and the DPRK? What is the difference between these two states and other countries of the world?
The fact is that in 1950, when the Korean War broke out, the Republic of China sided with the DPRK. Soon, in 1951, they entered into an agreement on cooperation and friendship between the countries. China, in turn, promised to provide everyone if necessary.
This agreement was renewed twice - in 1981 and in 2001, so these relations were important for both countries. To date, the contract is concluded until 2021.
However, one should not forget about the six-party talks on the settlement of North Korea’s nuclear program. China is directly involved in these negotiations. This did not interfere with the diplomatic relations between the PRC and the DPRK, so in 2009 they celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their friendship. This year has been called the year of diplomatic relations between China and North Korea.
But we will not end such a touching story on a positive note. Already in 2013, the Chinese Foreign Minister made a statement that the PRC is opposed to the last nuclear operation that Korea conducted. What, in fact, was personally reported to the North Korean ambassador. So, on May 5 of the same year, the DPRK captured a Chinese fishing vessel. As a ransom, they demanded about 100 thousand US dollars. Why not diplomatic relations?
Border
The PRC and the DPRK are divided by a border of 1,416 kilometers. It practically corresponds to the flow of two rivers - the Mist and the Yalujiang. Until 2003, countries had as many as six border crossings. Since November 2003, border units were replaced by army units.
The border of China and the DPRK has a 20-kilometer fence, which was built in the PRC. And in February 1997, it was decided to allow tourists to cross the bridge, which was located on the border. This greatly increased the number of applicants - for a year from literally 1000 tourists to 100,000. This naturally influenced the construction of the bridge that connects North Korea and China in the cities of Mapho and Jian.
Territorial dispute
In 1963, Beijing and Pyongyang reached an agreement on the demarcation of the border. Even during the existence of the Soviet Union, the PRC tried by all means to break out of international isolation. Moreover, China so wanted to pull over Kim Il Sung’s regime, that some provinces even began to protest certain actions of the Chinese authorities.
In gratitude for the assistance that China provided to the DPRK during the Korean War, the Chinese authorities demanded 160 square kilometers of land from Pektusan from North Korea. In 1968-1969, clashes between Koreans and Chinese took place more than once on the background of these events. But already in 1970, China refused all claims and misunderstandings in order to improve diplomatic relations with North Korea.
Economic relations
Here is a very interesting statistics. While for North Korea, China is the largest supplier and representative in economic relations, North Korea is only 82nd in the PRC. It is also worth noting that China provides almost half of the DPRK, and a quarter is exported. It is not surprising, such a huge and powerful country like China has much broader economic prospects than a small country on the Korean Peninsula.
What does North Korea import from China?
- Mineral fuel.
- Oil (China is the largest oil supplier in the DPRK).
- Vehicles.
- Cars.
- Plastic.
- Iron.
- Steel.
Military relations
As already indicated, China has been a partner to North Korea for over 60 years. DPRK found a very good and profitable partner.
Naturally, with such a long cooperation, China was obliged to help Korea in the war. Yes, the Republic of China lost about 400,000 of its soldiers, many of whom were injured, missing, died of injuries or illnesses.
We can say that this is the price of such long friendly relations between countries. DPRK and PRC were tightly bound by the blood of the dead soldiers. Even if relations come to an end, which is unlikely to happen, given that both countries are happy with everything, everyone will remember and honor those who defended people in the Korean War.
So, such a military relationship between China and the DPRK. The main role was played only by the Korean War.
Visits
Many today are wondering how China managed to make the DPRK president for the first time (since 2011) leave his country. He personally came on an unofficial visit to China. Negotiations took place, where Kim Jong-un congratulated the President of China on his re-election and discussed the situation with the Korean Peninsula.
"We want to cooperate with our comrades from the DPRK in order to maintain our aspiration for the future and to move forward together, so we will promote long-term and healthy relations between the countries and get benefits for our countries and our peoples, as well as lay the foundation for peace, stability and development region, "said Xi Jinping.
Relationship today
Unexpectedly, but since 2017, a strange chilled to some extent atmosphere in relations between China and the DPRK can be noted. This is due primarily to the fact that China began to establish ties with South Korea. More than once, some kind of relationship was observed between Seoul and Beijing.
However, Beijing has not just become colder about Pyongyang. China initially opposed all nuclear tests that were conducted in North Korea. But the ally did not take this seriously, and in September 2017 another experiment with nuclear weapons was conducted.
China reacted very negatively to this, the position has become much tougher. An appeal was sent to the UN with a request to solve or at least influence the problem. Donald Trump strongly stated that the DPRK showed a clear disrespect for the opinion of the world community and ignored requests, advice and even threats.
China and DPRK relations at the world level at the moment have reached a climax. Will this issue be resolved peacefully?
Despite all this, China and North Korea continue to maintain diplomatic relations in a state of relative calm and order, which is why the United States even allowed itself to express itself in the direction of the PRC in this way: "China succumbed." Is this really so? The issue is complex and multilateral, because it was China that initiated the UN meeting because of the dangerous experiments that were conducted in the DPRK.
Now, such events are happening now in Asian countries. As we see, China and North Korea are an example of really long diplomatic relations. And not only in diplomacy, but also in the economic sphere. It can be said that the DPRK depends on China's supplies, and to a rather high degree.
What will happen in 2021 when the friendship agreement ends? Will it be extended or will such a long relationship of the 21st century of China and the DPRK end? Forecasts are positive in principle, but who knows how the world of politics will turn. Perhaps due to the stubbornness of North Korea about nuclear experiments will come to an end this friendship?