China-Korea Relations: New Challenges in the Post-Kim Jong Il Era

Author

Scott Snyder, See-Won Byun

Content Type

Journal Article

Journal

Comparative Connections

Volume

13

Issue Number

3

Publication Date

September 2011

Institution

Center for Strategic and International Studies

Abstract

Beijing underscored maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula following Kim Jong Il's death. DPRK leadership succession raises questions about the future direction of China's Korea policy, which was most recently reaffirmed during an October visit to the two Koreas by Vice Premier Li Keqiang, the presumed successor of Premier Wen Jiabao. Prior to Kim's death, China and North Korea maintained regular contacts with senior national, party, and military officials. There have also been mutual efforts to stabilize Sino-South Korean relations despite many differences that have risen in the aftermath of North Korea's 2010 provocations. The fourth China-ROK high-level strategic dialogue was held on Dec. 27 in Seoul.

Political Geography

China, Beijing, South Korea, North Korea, Korea