중국 외교장관, 11년만의 방북... '중국 역할론' 성과는?<br /><br /> China's top diplomat travelled to Pyongyang.<br />A strategic move to strengthen relations with the regime ahead of the North Korea-U.S. summit.<br />While Beijing seems to have been very eager about this meeting, the hermit kingdom seems rather calm.<br />Oh Jung-hee sheds light on the possible reason behind the contrasting attitudes. <br /> It was the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Pyongyang in 11 years.<br />Beijing's Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi made a two-day trip to the North Korean capital this week,... meeting with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho and the North's leader Kim Jong-un.<br /> The objective -- to discuss the outcome of last week's inter-Korean summit... and more importantly, to reaffirm China's position amid ongoing discussions on denuclearization and ending the decades-long armistice.<br /> Wang told North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that China hopes to strengthen strategic communication with North Korea "in every aspect."<br /> And he told the North's foreign minister that China will continue to play a (quote) "positive role."<br /><br /> "China is a major party to the armistice treaty, we stand ready to have continued communication with the U.S., South Korea and other relevant parties."<br /><br /> China's foreign ministry was quick to brief the world on Wang's meeting with Kim Jong-un,... immediately posting statements on its official social media account.<br /> Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency, on the other hand, used formal expressions saying that there were in-depth discussions... and hinted Kim and Wang had differences in views,... writing they (quote)"reconfirmed the views of North Korea and China."<br />It appears as though Pyongyang is leaving room for development in relations with Washington.<br /><br /> "If North Korea-U.S. relations go on to dramatically improve, then North Korea will want to achieve a strategic balance between the U.S. and China so that it can maximize its geopolitical value and obtain as much benefit as possible from both countries."<br /><br /> China has, until recently, called itself only a 'mediator' of issues on the Korean Peninsula -- meaning the North Korean nuclear issue is not its responsibility.<br />But now, Beijing calls itself a (quote)"major relevant party."<br /> The recent change of rhetoric, experts say, comes as China feels the direct threat of being bypassed in the political turnaround: Washington can skip over China to directly negotiate with North Korea... and even go further to reduce Beijing's influence in the region by normalizing ties with Pyongyang.<br />Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News. <br />
