China not expected to send representative to commemorate death of former leader Kim Jong-il
Updated: 2014-12-17 06:40:33 KST
When North Korea marks the third anniversary of former leader Kim Jong-il's death on Wednesday, they are likely to do so without a representative from China.
Last year, the Chinese ambassador to North Korea, Liu Hongcai, appeared at a ceremony for the occasion.
But a diplomatic source in Beijing says that won't be the case this year because Pyongyang did not extend an invite.
That is representative of the frost that has developed on Sino-North Korea ties.
There have been no high level talks between Beijing and Pyongyang this year, and when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the peninsula this past July, he did not stop over in Pyongyang before coming to Seoul, as is the tradition for a Chinese leader.
The two countries have been hoping to foster economic ties through the development of special economic zones, but those plans came to a screeching halt late last year with the execution of Jang Song-thaek, who had been one of North Korea's most powerful figures and had close ties to Beijing.
In the 12 months since, China's crude oil exports to Pyongyang have been cut off completely, dropping from 5-hundred-78-thousand tons last year to zero this year.
But there are some who predict relations will take a turn next year.
"China is highly likely to side with North Korea when the UN Security Council discusses Pyongyang's human rights violations. This is when relations between the two countries will normalize."
Professor Yang expects high level talks to take place at some point next year, by October at the latest, when North Korea marks the 70th anniversary of the Communist Party.
Connie Kim, Arirang News.
http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/content/china-not-expected-send-representative-commemorate-death-kim-jong-il
