Ignore China, North Korea's Kim tells diplomats amid apparent rift in relations

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly instructed his diplomats in China to "disregard" China, signaling Pyongyang's growing rift with Beijing amid strengthening ties with Moscow.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un [NEWS1]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly instructed his diplomats in China to "disregard" China, signaling Pyongyang's growing rift with Beijing amid strengthening ties with Moscow.

The regime has also implemented new restrictions on the movement of Chinese nationals within North Korea.

Multiple sources revealed to the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, on Wednesday that Kim's directive, which essentially tells envoys "not to mind China," was communicated to North Korean diplomatic missions in China, raising concerns about a widening rift between the two countries.

This move follows Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea, during which a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty was signed on June 19.

Experts suggest that Kim Jong-un's directive indicates a willingness to act aggressively without considering future relations with China. It is expected to lead to increased illicit activities by North Korean overseas missions, including smuggling, procurement of luxury goods and espionage.

Tensions between North Korea and China have been spotted consistently since Kim's summit with Putin in Russia last September, where they significantly boosted their cooperation.

China's stance remains clear: it does not want to appear part of a North Korea-Russia-China alliance, especially as it seeks to manage tensions with the United States while improving relations with South Korea and Japan.

In a symbolic gesture reflecting the strained relations, China removed a plaque commemorating Kim Jong-un’s 2018 visit to Dalian with Chinese President Xi Jinping in May. Additionally, China reportedly demanded the repatriation of all North Korean workers earlier this month, a critical source of foreign currency for North Korea.

In reaction to the commitment to the "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" declared at the South Korea-Japan-China summit on May 27, North Korea launched a military reconnaissance satellite the same night.

In addition, North Korea is tightening control over Chinese nationals, who have been acting as civilian bridges between the nation and China internally.

"North Korea has recently been restricting their movement and limiting North Korean citizens from visiting their homes," one source said.

Payments in Chinese yuan, which used to account for a significant portion of the currency in North Korean markets, are reportedly restricted in some parts.

"Previously, yuan payments were possible in markets in Pyongyang, but now it is not allowed," a high-ranking defector said.

Yuan accounted for 68.4 percent of the currency in North Korean markets between 2016 and 2020, more than double the 25.7 percent share of North Korean won, according to a report by the South's Unification Ministry published in February.

Furthermore, North Korean authorities are expanding their crackdown on external influences, banning not only South Korean but also Chinese cultural content.

"In recent months, North Korean authorities have banned civilians and soldiers from watching Chinese movies," another source said. "I heard there was an instance where they have confiscated a storage device containing Chinese films."

This shift is evident in North Korean state media, such as the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which has significantly reduced the airing of Chinese films, focusing instead on Soviet Russian films, especially around the time of Putin’s visit.

Diplomatic interactions also reflect these strains between North Korea and China, with notable absences and downgraded representation at key events.

The Chinese ambassador to North Korea did not attend the 71st anniversary of the Korean War armistice in Pyongyang on Saturday, a notable deviation from the norm. Similarly, at a ceremony marking the 63rd anniversary of signing a bilateral friendship treaty in Pyongyang on July 11, the North Korean representative was downgraded from last year’s.

Trade between North Korea and China has significantly decreased, with North Korean rice imports from China in the first half of this year dropping to one-tenth of last year's level. This mirrors past instances, such as when China joined UN sanctions against North Korea in 2016, leading to North Korea restricting the issuance of domestic travel passes to Chinese nationals.

"Unlike Russia, China’s strategic interests do not fully align with North Korea’s anti-American stance," said Oh Gyeong-seob, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification. "The strained relations will likely continue until China agrees to measures like nullifying sanctions or providing military technology."

However, analysts note that the strategic relationship between North Korea and China could quickly rebound if their interests align, as seen in the restoration of ties during the North Korea-U.S. summits in 2018 and 2019.

BY CHUNG YEONG-GYO, PARK HYUN-JU [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]