North Korean Nuclear Testing Leads To Potential Chinese-American Cooperation

Current tensions between the United States and North Korea have increased due to the dramatic improvements in North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. North Korea claimed that it has tested a new type of nuclear missile. According to American reports, outlined by the New York Times, this new capability will result in it being easier for North Korea to hide its exact capabilities and would allow for the missiles to be used in a quicker manner.

The news comes as tensions between China and North Korea have increased more than ever before during the Kim dynasty. China has cut off importing coal in an attempt to abide by sanctions made by the United Nations Security Council in order to prevent the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. According to the New York Times, coal accounts for approximately 40 percent of North Korean exports, nearly all of which going to China. The sanctions have a harsh impact on the North Korean economy. North Korea has accused China of being manipulated and controlled by the United States. Another divide between the two countries came about with the assassination of Kim-Jong Un’s half-brother, Kim Jong-Nam. He was said to be China’s preference in taking over North Korea, and he was assassinated in part to avoid any fighting over the North Korean Presidency.

China has traditionally followed a tradition of non-intervention in the affairs of other countries, partially in an attempt to prevent sanctions against China for its own human rights violations. In a recent United Nations Security Council vote, China, along with Russia vetoed an American proposal to enact sanctions on the government of Bashar al-Assad for its use of chemical weapons in the recent Syrian Civil War.

At the same time, China’s role in world affairs seems to be increasing. They began installing a military base in Djibouti in order to assist Chinese ships, in terms of security while traveling through waters near Somalia. According to CNN, China has also given economic aid to creating an electric railway that would connect much of Eastern Africa by building rails in The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. The expansion of Chinese assistance and even interference have a direct effect on, not just the United States, but also North Korea. If China were to take a more aggressive approach in intervening in other nations, it would threaten the Kim dynasty, therefore North Korea’s current government.

North Korea’s government is currently not as stable as it has been in the past, with the defection of Thae Yong-ho, the highest ranking defector in years. According to ho, “The traditional structures of the North Korean system are crumbling.” The instability, coupled with the potential of China distancing itself from the regime may lead to developmental change in North Korea.

All of this raises the stakes in the upcoming meeting between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In a recent meeting with the top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi, Trump and Jiechi discussed cooperation between the two nations when it comes to matters of national security, not excluding the proliferation of nuclear weapons in North Korea.

North Korea has long stood as one of the foremost offenders of human rights. According to Human Rights watch, North Korea’s violations include extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions, and other sexual violence. The fact that officials have left North Korea, along with the distancing of China could eliminate the tentative support that Kim Jong Un has, thus leading to regime change.

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