Commentary on DPRK-China relations by Dr Dermot Hudson

                                       

Overall the improvement in relations between the DPRK and China is to be welcomed . In 2017 the relationship was very tense with both countries media carrying critical. articles about each other .However thanks to skilful diplomacy of respected Marshal KIM JONG UN there has been a big improvement in relations .
                             

However some friends of the DPRK have raised concerns about the recent visit of President Xi to the DPRK , worried about China trying to spread capitalist and revisionist influence in the DPRK or trying to dominate the DPRK . Some have even said that China wants to make the DPRK its colony .
People need to understand that the DPRK is totally independent and will defend independence whilst maintaining relations with those countries that are friendly to it. People's Korea , land of Juche , is not a creation of another country and not a satellite or a colony of anyone else and will never be .
On the day the Chinese president arrived , Rodong Sinmun the daily paper of the Workers Party of Korea carried an article saying that "preserving the Juche character and national character is fundamental to ensuring the independent development of a state and herein lies its great significance...
The Juche character and national character are the life of a country and nation that guarantees their prosperity and the victorious advance of the revolution and construction. The historical experience and lesson show that preserving the Juche character and national character is the key issue decisive of victory or failure in the revolution and construction, and the one vital to the destiny of the country and nation.
Preserving the Juche character and national character provides a firm guarantee for the country and nation to defend and glorify their independent dignity and make steady progress with true quality as befits a state."
It is wrong to say that the DPRK will get taken over by China or be influenced by China. The great leader comrade KIM IL SUNG was a sharp critic of Soviet modern revisionism . He wrote a number of articles attacking revisionism . Indeed he was one of the first people to reject glasnost and perestroika (see the speech "For Complete Victory of Socialism ") The USSR even imposed its own sanctions on the DPRK in 1962. However at the same time the DPRK maintained good relations with the USSR . Because the DPRK had good relations with the USSR did not mean it would bow down and accept everything the USSR said .The DPRK had relations with the USSR, Albania and Yugoslavia but did not copy these countries. It is the same with China
Back in 1989 President KIM IL SUNG , no doubt with the experience of the neighbouring country in mind said "'Careless opening may allow mosquitoes and blowflies to fly in and cause damage. We must conduct exchanges and joint ventures with other countries, but we must pitch mosquito nets to prevent those insects from infiltrating "
 It is notable that the mass game that President XI Jinping was taken to watch was called "Invincible Socialism " and stressed the " glorious development course and history of the heroic struggle of the DPRK which has emerged as a socialist state independent in politics, self-supporting in economy and self-reliant in defence, winning great victories and bringing about epoch-making changes under the leadership of the WPK with the peerlessly great men held in high esteem."
Lastly , the visit should be seen in the context that China is rapidly falling out of favour with the imperialists . Rather than being seen as a partner it is seen as a rival and even an enemy as evidenced by a number of factors . Thus China is reaching out to old friends and renewing relationships . Maybe even one day China will wake up to the fact that you cannot build socialism in co-operation with imperialism , only through confrontation and slam the door hard on imperialism !