North Korea, China Pledge Partnership: Genuine Alliance or Political Show?

News Summary

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son‑hui met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, reaffirming Pyongyang’s unwavering resolve to deepen the traditional North Korea‑China partnership in line with the era’s demands.

Li stressed that China highly values the relationship and will strengthen strategic, long‑term cooperation and communication to benefit both peoples.

Commentary

Despite the flowery rhetoric, North Korea–China relations are far from a genuine alliance; instead, they amount to political theater, rooted in both regimes’ desperate efforts to maintain control at home.

Although Xi, Putin, and Kim showcased their partnership at China’s military parade in early September, the display was more political show than genuine unity—intended primarily to enhance their image at home and to intimidate the United States.

Historically, these three countries have rarely trusted one another; instead, they have exploited each other for their own benefit.

What truly unites the three leaders today is not shared vision but a common weakness: their increasingly fragile domestic standing.

All are facing internal pushback and discontent as a result of misguided policies and decisions that have placed their nations in difficult circumstances.

The United States and its allies should not be deceived or intimidated by this manufactured unity, but rather continue to stand firm while seeking ways to empower their own people to become the true agents of change.