TODAY
16 February 2017
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- Murder of Kim Jong Un’s Half-brother will Strain Pyongyang-Beijing Relations
Murder of Kim Jong Un’s Half-brother will Strain Pyongyang-Beijing Relations
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.
IDSS / Online / Print
Last updated on 16/02/2017
