China and North Korea to Strengthen Strategic Cooperation: The Art of Balanced Diplomacy - Beijing's "Not Overstepping" Strategy Towards the North

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his willingness to "strengthen strategic cooperation on international and regional issues" in a letter to General Secretary Kim Jong-un. The announcement was made by KCNA, also mentioning that during their September meeting in Beijing, the two leaders outlined a "blueprint for the development of relations." This comes at a time when North Korea is advancing its external "reconnection," marked by the Indonesian Foreign Minister's visit to Pyongyang to sign an MoU, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party. This move is not a legally binding treaty but rather a confirmation of strengthened relations through diplomatic messaging, with China maintaining a "cautious approach" while showcasing its ability to coordinate. On social media, pro-Russian accounts are promoting the strengthening of ties, while on platforms like Reddit, there is a more skeptical view, describing North Korea as a "buffer zone" for China. Concerns are shared that the parallel strengthening of U.S.-South Korea-Japan and China-North Korea-Russia relations could lead to prolonged tensions.