In May 2026, the US-China summit held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing was more than just a diplomatic event between the two nations' leaders. It represented a moment where the world's largest strategic competitors, the United States and China, recalibrated the direction of global order amid a backdrop of conflict and cooperation. Central to these discussions was the ongoing issue of North Korea.
President Donald Trump stated shortly after the meeting that he had discussed the North Korean issue with President Xi Jinping. This brief remark elicited immediate reactions from the international diplomatic community, signaling that the North Korean issue had once again risen to the forefront of the US-China strategic dialogue.
For decades, the North Korean issue has been one of the most dangerous flashpoints in Northeast Asia's international order. For the United States, it represents a nuclear threat; for China, it is a matter of regime stability and a buffer zone; for South Korea, it is a survival issue tied to war and peace. Japan views it through the lens of security concerns, while Russia sees it as a geopolitical matter linked to its Far East strategy.
Recent visits by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Pyongyang symbolize this evolving dynamic. His trip marked the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to North Korea in over six years, sending a significant political message. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the relationship between North Korea and China has been under new strains. North Korea has rapidly strengthened its ties with Russia, while China has appeared to distance itself somewhat.
In particular, the relationship between North Korea and Russia has deepened to a level resembling a military alliance since the onset of the Ukraine war. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have bolstered their strategic cooperation through summit meetings, with Western intelligence suggesting that North Korea has provided munitions and military supplies to Russia. Conversely, Russia has enhanced its support for North Korea through military technology, energy, and food assistance.
From North Korea's perspective, Russia has become a strategic ally that alleviates the pressure of international sanctions. Meanwhile, Russia, facing a prolonged conflict in Ukraine, has sought military supply lines from North Korea. Their mutual interests have aligned.
However, from China's viewpoint, North Korea's excessive alignment with Russia is an unwelcome scenario. North Korea falls within China's traditional sphere of influence, and Beijing does not desire a sudden upheaval on the Korean Peninsula or a complete tilt of the North Korean regime towards Russia. Thus, Wang Yi's visit is seen as an effort to restore and reaffirm the North Korea-China relationship.
An interesting aspect of the dynamics is the relationship between President Trump and Kim Jong Un. Trump has repeatedly emphasized that he maintains a good relationship with Kim. The unprecedented diplomacy displayed during their meetings in Singapore and at the Panmunjom border surprised the world. However, since the collapse of the Hanoi summit, US-North Korea relations have effectively stalled.
For Kim, distrust towards the United States has grown, while Trump has had to deprioritize the North Korean issue amid domestic political pressures. Nevertheless, Trump still aspires to be remembered as the US president who resolved the North Korean nuclear issue and established peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The rationale is clear: resolving the North Korean issue transcends mere diplomatic achievement and carries Nobel Peace Prize-level significance. No US president has fundamentally resolved the North Korean nuclear issue in history. If Trump can achieve tangible progress toward freezing North Korea's nuclear program, phased denuclearization, and establishing a peace regime, it could be recorded as one of the greatest diplomatic accomplishments since the Cold War.
The challenge lies in the current realities of North Korea. Recently, North Korea has been rapidly advancing its nuclear capabilities and defense industry. It is moving beyond simple nuclear development to establish a multi-layered nuclear arsenal, including tactical nuclear systems, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), hypersonic missiles, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
This situation is qualitatively different from the past. North Korea increasingly views its nuclear arsenal not as a bargaining chip but as an absolute condition for regime survival. The Kim regime has elevated its nuclear capabilities to a constitutional level of national strategy, while the defense industry is being restructured as a core pillar of the national economy.
The expansion of military cooperation with Russia has introduced new variables into North Korea's defense industry modernization. Discussions of military technology exchanges and satellite technology cooperation have emerged. North Korea aims to strengthen its asymmetric capabilities to withstand US military pressure.
In this context, South Korea's role is becoming increasingly important. President Lee Jae-myung has recently emphasized the need for de-escalation of tensions between the two Koreas and the establishment of a gradual peace roadmap. His approach advocates for restoring dialogue through economic cooperation, military tension reduction, and humanitarian exchanges.
Particularly, the Lee administration tends to approach the Korean Peninsula issue not merely as an ideological confrontation but as a matter of survival and economics. As the likelihood of war increases, the South Korean economy, financial markets, and foreign investment sentiment face direct impacts.
However, the reality is challenging. The United States is strengthening security cooperation with South Korea and Japan to counter China, while Japan is accelerating its defense spending and long-range strike capabilities. Conversely, North Korea, Russia, and to some extent China are strategically aligning, creating a new Cold War atmosphere in Northeast Asia.
Some analysts suggest that a de facto 'South Korea-US-Japan vs. North Korea-China-Russia' framework is already forming in Northeast Asia. This implies the potential emergence of a collective security structure similar to NATO in Europe.
Yet, Northeast Asia is different from Europe. Its history, ethnicity, and economy are far more complexly intertwined. China and the United States are each other's largest trading partners even while they confront one another, and South Korea's security is deeply connected to the US while its economy is tied to China. The North Korean issue is not merely a military concern but is intricately linked to regime stability, history, economics, and ethnicity.
The Chinese classic text, the Dao De Jing, states, "A great nation should remain lowly." This suggests that stronger nations should prioritize humility and order over power. This sentiment resonates deeply with today's US-China relations and the Korean Peninsula issue.
Additionally, the Analects of Confucius states, "The noble person harmonizes without seeking sameness, while the petty person seeks sameness but cannot harmonize." This reflects the ancient wisdom of East Asian civilization, advocating for coexistence and harmony despite differing systems and ideologies.
The Buddhist Dhammapada also teaches, "Hatred is not resolved by hatred; it is only resolved by compassion." This ancient teaching prompts us to reconsider what the last hope for human civilization is amid nuclear weapons, missiles, military alliances, and hegemonic competition.
Ultimately, the path to peace is not easy. However, paradoxically, the need for dialogue grows stronger in times of heightened tension. The future of the Korean Peninsula cannot be resolved solely through nuclear weapons, missiles, military alliances, and strategic competition.
The discussions between President Trump and President Xi regarding North Korea may have reaffirmed this reality. Great powers often rediscover the necessity of negotiation just before the brink of conflict. Likewise, the peace of the Korean Peninsula may gradually advance through a cycle of confrontation and negotiation.
Spring does not come overnight. Yet, throughout history, humanity has always awaited spring after a long winter. The same applies to peace on the Korean Peninsula. Today, Northeast Asia stands under a vast cloud of geopolitical uncertainty, but within that, the refusal to abandon the possibilities of dialogue, restraint, and mutual coexistence represents the true beginning of diplomacy.
President Donald Trump stated shortly after the meeting that he had discussed the North Korean issue with President Xi Jinping. This brief remark elicited immediate reactions from the international diplomatic community, signaling that the North Korean issue had once again risen to the forefront of the US-China strategic dialogue.
For decades, the North Korean issue has been one of the most dangerous flashpoints in Northeast Asia's international order. For the United States, it represents a nuclear threat; for China, it is a matter of regime stability and a buffer zone; for South Korea, it is a survival issue tied to war and peace. Japan views it through the lens of security concerns, while Russia sees it as a geopolitical matter linked to its Far East strategy.
Recent visits by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Pyongyang symbolize this evolving dynamic. His trip marked the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to North Korea in over six years, sending a significant political message. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the relationship between North Korea and China has been under new strains. North Korea has rapidly strengthened its ties with Russia, while China has appeared to distance itself somewhat.
In particular, the relationship between North Korea and Russia has deepened to a level resembling a military alliance since the onset of the Ukraine war. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have bolstered their strategic cooperation through summit meetings, with Western intelligence suggesting that North Korea has provided munitions and military supplies to Russia. Conversely, Russia has enhanced its support for North Korea through military technology, energy, and food assistance.
From North Korea's perspective, Russia has become a strategic ally that alleviates the pressure of international sanctions. Meanwhile, Russia, facing a prolonged conflict in Ukraine, has sought military supply lines from North Korea. Their mutual interests have aligned.
However, from China's viewpoint, North Korea's excessive alignment with Russia is an unwelcome scenario. North Korea falls within China's traditional sphere of influence, and Beijing does not desire a sudden upheaval on the Korean Peninsula or a complete tilt of the North Korean regime towards Russia. Thus, Wang Yi's visit is seen as an effort to restore and reaffirm the North Korea-China relationship.
An interesting aspect of the dynamics is the relationship between President Trump and Kim Jong Un. Trump has repeatedly emphasized that he maintains a good relationship with Kim. The unprecedented diplomacy displayed during their meetings in Singapore and at the Panmunjom border surprised the world. However, since the collapse of the Hanoi summit, US-North Korea relations have effectively stalled.
For Kim, distrust towards the United States has grown, while Trump has had to deprioritize the North Korean issue amid domestic political pressures. Nevertheless, Trump still aspires to be remembered as the US president who resolved the North Korean nuclear issue and established peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The rationale is clear: resolving the North Korean issue transcends mere diplomatic achievement and carries Nobel Peace Prize-level significance. No US president has fundamentally resolved the North Korean nuclear issue in history. If Trump can achieve tangible progress toward freezing North Korea's nuclear program, phased denuclearization, and establishing a peace regime, it could be recorded as one of the greatest diplomatic accomplishments since the Cold War.
The challenge lies in the current realities of North Korea. Recently, North Korea has been rapidly advancing its nuclear capabilities and defense industry. It is moving beyond simple nuclear development to establish a multi-layered nuclear arsenal, including tactical nuclear systems, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), hypersonic missiles, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
This situation is qualitatively different from the past. North Korea increasingly views its nuclear arsenal not as a bargaining chip but as an absolute condition for regime survival. The Kim regime has elevated its nuclear capabilities to a constitutional level of national strategy, while the defense industry is being restructured as a core pillar of the national economy.
The expansion of military cooperation with Russia has introduced new variables into North Korea's defense industry modernization. Discussions of military technology exchanges and satellite technology cooperation have emerged. North Korea aims to strengthen its asymmetric capabilities to withstand US military pressure.
In this context, South Korea's role is becoming increasingly important. President Lee Jae-myung has recently emphasized the need for de-escalation of tensions between the two Koreas and the establishment of a gradual peace roadmap. His approach advocates for restoring dialogue through economic cooperation, military tension reduction, and humanitarian exchanges.
Particularly, the Lee administration tends to approach the Korean Peninsula issue not merely as an ideological confrontation but as a matter of survival and economics. As the likelihood of war increases, the South Korean economy, financial markets, and foreign investment sentiment face direct impacts.
However, the reality is challenging. The United States is strengthening security cooperation with South Korea and Japan to counter China, while Japan is accelerating its defense spending and long-range strike capabilities. Conversely, North Korea, Russia, and to some extent China are strategically aligning, creating a new Cold War atmosphere in Northeast Asia.
Some analysts suggest that a de facto 'South Korea-US-Japan vs. North Korea-China-Russia' framework is already forming in Northeast Asia. This implies the potential emergence of a collective security structure similar to NATO in Europe.
Yet, Northeast Asia is different from Europe. Its history, ethnicity, and economy are far more complexly intertwined. China and the United States are each other's largest trading partners even while they confront one another, and South Korea's security is deeply connected to the US while its economy is tied to China. The North Korean issue is not merely a military concern but is intricately linked to regime stability, history, economics, and ethnicity.
The Chinese classic text, the Dao De Jing, states, "A great nation should remain lowly." This suggests that stronger nations should prioritize humility and order over power. This sentiment resonates deeply with today's US-China relations and the Korean Peninsula issue.
Additionally, the Analects of Confucius states, "The noble person harmonizes without seeking sameness, while the petty person seeks sameness but cannot harmonize." This reflects the ancient wisdom of East Asian civilization, advocating for coexistence and harmony despite differing systems and ideologies.
The Buddhist Dhammapada also teaches, "Hatred is not resolved by hatred; it is only resolved by compassion." This ancient teaching prompts us to reconsider what the last hope for human civilization is amid nuclear weapons, missiles, military alliances, and hegemonic competition.
Ultimately, the path to peace is not easy. However, paradoxically, the need for dialogue grows stronger in times of heightened tension. The future of the Korean Peninsula cannot be resolved solely through nuclear weapons, missiles, military alliances, and strategic competition.
The discussions between President Trump and President Xi regarding North Korea may have reaffirmed this reality. Great powers often rediscover the necessity of negotiation just before the brink of conflict. Likewise, the peace of the Korean Peninsula may gradually advance through a cycle of confrontation and negotiation.
Spring does not come overnight. Yet, throughout history, humanity has always awaited spring after a long winter. The same applies to peace on the Korean Peninsula. Today, Northeast Asia stands under a vast cloud of geopolitical uncertainty, but within that, the refusal to abandon the possibilities of dialogue, restraint, and mutual coexistence represents the true beginning of diplomacy.
※ This article was generated using generative AI and has been reviewed by an editor.