Amid political transition in the U.S. and South Korea, Sino-North Korean relations remain tenuous, though recent developments suggest that the two are closer than it appears. Since Kim Jong Un’s new year address, North Korea’s rhetoric has emphasized tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) rather than nuclear weapons, perceived as more agreeable by Chinese commentators. Despite Chinese hopes to the contrary, deployment of THAAD, the anti-missile defense system, is now likely to continue in South Korea.

Political winds in South Korea have shifted to China’s detriment, and Donald Trump has yet to take