SEOUL — South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) is reportedly intensifying its observation of North Korea’s diplomatic maneuvers with China, following indications of a potential rift between the two nations, according to officials on Wednesday. The scrutiny comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has allegedly directed his diplomats in China to disregard Beijing’s stance while conducting official duties.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this directive aligns with recent actions that suggest cooling ties between Pyongyang and Beijing, including North Korea’s unusual criticism of a joint statement issued by China and its neighbors. Further straining relations, China recently removed a symbolic footprint plaque in Dalian, a relic of Kim’s 2018 visit, hinting at a distancing between the two allies. These developments coincide with Pyongyang’s increasingly visible alignment with Moscow, emphasized by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to North Korea. The NIS continues to monitor these shifts closely, particularly in light of economic changes within North Korea, such as restrictions on transactions using the Chinese yuan in local markets.