ABSTRACT

This chapter explains the China Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) strategic partnership based on the relationship between China's bilateral and regional approaches to North Korea since the 1990s. It examines the development of China DPRK bilateral relations over four stages, from the recovery of ties following the first nuclear crisis in the early 1990s to the consolidation of friendship in 2009-12. China's four primary goals toward North Korea include: to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula; to promote reform and opening; to ensure that the Korean Peninsula is friendly, or at least not hostile, toward China; and to achieve denuclearization. The chapter identifies what extent Chinese bilateral approaches to managing relations with Pyongyang have supported or challenged Chinese regional approaches. China has grown more active in addressing the DPRK nuclear threat with increased international pressure, but this effort has fallen short of taking direct measures against Pyongyang that would undermine China DPRK relations.