Speaking to students at his alma mater last week, U.S. point man on North Korea Stephen Biegun told his audience that China was supportive of Washington’s efforts with North Korea.

China was giving Pyongyang the right signals, Biegun said, and Beijing had told him it would keep issues arising from U.S.-China trade tensions separate from DPRK policy.

“My Chinese counterpart told me when we first met several months ago, that notwithstanding the other areas of tension in the U.S. China relationship, that China would compartmentalize North Korea and their cooperation