As China’s leverage on North Korea slips, it’s time for a new approach

The strain between North Korea and China is a predictable outcome based on North Korea’s historical pattern of “pendulum diplomacy”. This strategy of shifting between major powers to advance its national interests has made both China and Russia targets of North Korea’s balancing act.

But amid deepened ties between North Korea and Russia, there has been a decline in maritime trade between North Korea and China. Furthermore, the Chinese ambassador in Pyongyang was reportedly absent from an anti-American rally held in Pyongyang on the anniversary of the Korean war. South Korean experts interpret these development as indications that China has started putting pressure on North Korea.

North Korea’s ambivalent attitude towards China hasn’t emerged overnight. North Korea’s deep commitment to political sovereignty has led it to frequently act independently of China.

At the same time, China has not treated North Korea as a genuine ally; rather, it has maintained a passive stance, adhering to a policy of preserving the status quo on the Korean peninsula. This approach has ultimately backfired, pushing the bilateral relationship towards a breaking point.

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Lee Min-Yong is a visiting professor in the School of Global Service at Sookmyung Women’s University, South Korea