Lily Kuo, The Guardian: Kim Jong-un's visit to China fails to hide strain in relations
Kim and his wife were treated to a banquet, a performance and a lesson in Chinese tea culture
When the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, visited Beijing this week they were treated to a banquet at the stately Great Hall of the People, a performance, and a lesson in Chinese tea culture, given by the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and his wife, Peng Liyuan. The event was “overflowing with a harmonious and intimate atmosphere from its beginning to the end”, North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, breathlessly reported.
The pageantry of Kim’s surprise visit to Beijing, confirmed only after he left China on Wednesday, obscures a strained relationship between the two long-time communist allies. China’s state news agency, Xinhua, was careful to describe the visit as “unofficial”.
“It was ‘unofficial’ probably because Xi is still angry and frustrated that Kim has shown an utter lack of respect for China’s interests and for Xi personally,” said Michael Kovrig, senior adviser for north-east Asia at the International Crisis Group, an independent conflict-prevention organisation. “Kim is not out of the doghouse yet.”
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WNU Editor: One of the better analysis that I have read so far .... and one that conforms with my own views on how China handles these type of diplomatic "unofficial" summits. My Chinese contacts are also telling me the same thing .... chummy in front of the cameras .... not so chummy when they were off.
