The assassination of Kim Jong-nam is likely to further strain Pyongyang’s ties with Beijing, which harboured him in Macau, where he lived in exile for years.

Given Kim’s long-time residency in Beijing and Macau, he may have acted as a source of insight for the Chinese on how to interpret happenings inside North Korea, said former top Central Intelligence Agency analyst Chris Johnson.

… Despite their status as allies, Beijing is at times also held hostage to Pyongyang’s policies, added Mr Harry Sa, a research analyst with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

“China prefers North Korea to be a predictable and stable buffer against American and South Korean presence. However, every time a provocative decision is made, such as a missile test or assassination, it is bad publicity for China and it provides the United States a legitimate reason to stay militarily engaged in the region,” he said.