China's ambivalence on North Korea-Russia Military deal

As Russia and North Korea have negotiated and executed a series of deals related to arms since September, it is likely that China is ambivalent towards this military deal between North Korea and Russia, as there are both pros and cons for Beijing, The Diplomat reported.

- 

The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un took security relations between the two nations to the next level. According to many experts, China could benefit from the arms deal, and its inaction would kill two birds with one stone. China has avoided providing military equipment to Russia. However, it does not want Russia to lose the war. China can avoid further hostility from the European nations if North Korea provides artillery ammunition to Russia.

China does not want to take on greater responsibility for avoiding the comprehensive sanctions against North Korea, particularly for violating UN Security Council resolutions on the arms trade.

Instead, Russia will take the responsibility for supplying sanctioned technology to North Korea, while China will enjoy influence over the US and its allies, Wooyeal Paik wrote in The Diplomat report.