[국제]China is in a hurry to US pressure… continues to signal’support’ to North Korea

[앵커]

As the level of public pressure under the US administration of Biden rises, China continues to send signals that it will provide economic aid to attract North Korea.

North Korea is also making a move to strengthen cooperation with China, but it is still lukewarm about opening its borders.

Correspondent Kang Seong-woong reports from Beijing.

[기자]

This is the New Yalu River Bridge built in 2014.

In fact, it has been 7 years since it was completed, but it has yet to be opened due to North Korean circumstances.

However, recently, Japanese media reported that China is preparing to open the Yalu River Bridge within this year.

Liaoning provincial authorities have issued a bid announcement to conduct safety inspections necessary for the opening of the bridge.

The Chinese government also continues to express its intention to expand cooperation with North Korea.

[자오리젠 / 중국 외교부 대변인 (지난 12일) : 중국은 우호적 이웃으로서 북한과의 전통적 협력관계를 지키고 공고히 하고 발전시키기를 희망합니다.]

Japan’s Asahi Shimbun predicted that the Yalu River Railway Bridge will be reopened as early as next month and aid supplies will be available.

Rice, corn, and wheat to go to North Korea are already gathering in Dandong, a border city on the Chinese side.

China has repeatedly urged this week to lift partial security council sanctions against North Korea.

It appears to be a strategy to attract North Korea as an allied force after a head-on clash with the United States during the Alaska talks.

[화춘잉 / 중국 외교부 대변인 (지난 23일) : 한반도 정세의 진전에 따라 안보리가 대북 제재의 가역적 조항을 조속히 가동해, 민생 분야 제재를 조정할 필요가 있습니다.]

North Korea is preparing to expand economic exchange by sending trade expert Li Ryong-nam as Chinese ambassador last month.

However, the border between North Korea and China has been blocked for more than a year, and it is still unclear when it will be released.

It is known that even former Ambassador Ji Jae-ryong, who ended last month’s term of office, is not returning to North Korea.

As the confrontation with the United States intensifies, China continues to send signals of economic cooperation to North Korea, but concrete results have not yet come out.

This is Sungwoong Kang from YTN in Beijing.

[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]