China's role in denuclearising North Korea

While the trajectories of China and North Korea are very different, both countries remain Communist nations. Even with this shared political ideology, China is not the ally Western powers wish it to be. As North Korea continues its nuclear weapons program and to push the limits of peace on the Korean peninsula, China appears to hold an unpredictable foreign policy. In reality, its foreign policy is one that is focused on protecting Chinese interests. To understand China's reactions to North Korean aggression, it is important to reflect on the history of diplomatic affairs between China and North Korea. For China, maintaining peace and economic stability is more important than North Korea denuclearising. With that in mind, the USA and other Western powers must develop strategies that recognise the balancing act China is in. The more China pushes North Korea, the more North Korea will turn away from China.