North Korea will gain from diplomatic momentum

Significance

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited China during January 7-10. He spent his 35th birthday in Beijing and met Chinese President Xi Jinping for the fourth time in ten months. Meanwhile, Pompeo implied on January 11 that sanctions on North Korea could be eased, with a focus on removing its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) threat to the United States rather than full denuclearisation.

Impacts

• Xi might make an overdue return visit to Pyongyang in April, perhaps before Kim’s promised first visit to Seoul.
• Other Asian leaders may visit Pyongyang too, conferring legitimacy on Kim.
• South Korea may once again challenge China for influence in North Korea.