Key facts
- China may not block U.S.-North Korea diplomacy but is unlikely to play a central role, according to former U.S. diplomat Daniel Kritenbrink.
- Kritenbrink stated that Beijing will be suspicious of any significant thaw in Washington-Pyongyang relations.
- He believes China might welcome diplomacy if it furthers stability on the Korean Peninsula.
- Kritenbrink expects Trump and Xi to discuss North Korea at their upcoming summit but doubts significant agreement.
- He is skeptical that North Korea is interested in resuming talks with the U.S.
China may not obstruct renewed diplomacy between the United States and North Korea, but it is unlikely to play a central role in such reengagement, according to Daniel Kritenbrink, a former senior U.S. diplomat. Kritenbrink, who served as assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, stated that Beijing will likely remain cautious and suspicious of any significant thaw in Washington-Pyongyang relations.
Kritenbrink's comments come ahead of an anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump has also expressed his intention to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year.
While China might welcome diplomacy to the extent that it furthers stability on the Korean Peninsula, Kritenbrink noted that Beijing's suspicion of rapprochement between the U.S. and North Korea would likely temper its involvement. He suggested that Trump might seek China's general support for resuming talks with Kim but expressed skepticism about the necessity of Xi's direct involvement.
Kritenbrink also doubted that Trump and Xi would find significant areas of agreement on North Korea during their meeting, nor did he expect either side to alter their long-standing positions on denuclearization. He further cast doubt on North Korea's interest in resuming dialogue, citing Kim Jong-un's past experiences with the Trump administration and the current support the regime receives from Russia and China.