North Korea's Rare Critique of China Signals Discord Over Nuclear Weapons

By Madz Dizon

May 29, 2024 11:53 PM EDT

North Korea's Rare Critique of China Signals Discord Over Nuclear Weapons — North Korean and Chinese flags fly in Pyongyang on June 19, 2019. - Xi Jinping will make the first trip to North Korea by a Chinese president in 14 years this week, state media said on June 17, as Beijing tightens relations with Pyongyang amid tensions with the United States.
(Photo : ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)

Experts and officials in South Korea have noted that North Korea's recent criticism of China highlights the divergence in their views regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

This disagreement stands out, especially considering the improving relations between the two countries in other aspects.

North Korea Condemns China, Japan, South Korea's Denuclearization Talks

The North expressed strong disapproval of China, Japan, and South Korea's discussion on denuclearisation of the peninsula.

They labeled the joint declaration made after the summit in Seoul as a "serious political provocation" that infringes upon their sovereignty.

According to one analyst, the statement made by Beijing, which focused on the peninsula rather than the North specifically, managed to provoke its neighbor's anger.

In their remarks, the three nations emphasized their stances on regional peace and stability, as well as the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, Reuters reported.

However, unlike previous statements in 2019 and earlier, they did not make a specific commitment to actively pursue denuclearization.

Following the breakdown of international negotiations in 2019, North Korea has firmly rejected the idea of relinquishing its nuclear weapons.

Disagreements Over North Korea at Summit

When asked about the North's criticism during a press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated China's consistent stance on the Korean peninsula issue. However, denuclearization was not specifically addressed.

Based on a South Korean foreign ministry official, there were notable disagreements among the three countries at the summit regarding the North Korean issue.

The official also mentioned that China has not used the term "denuclearization" since last year.

"Given the current geopolitical situation, it seems challenging to convince China to agree to similar agreements as in the past," stated the official during a briefing.

However, the official emphasized that China's stance on denuclearisation remained unchanged, even though the talks indicated a more subdued tone.