The election of Moon Jae-in as president of South Korea has changed the discourse in China regarding North Korea pending a policy realignment in the South. However, China’s long-term objectives and strategy vis-à-vis North Korea remain unchanged—and observers within the country have credited China’s approach for the slowly abating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

CHINA CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT MOON

Candidate Moon Jae-in advocated an approach to North Korea which was quite advantageous to China compared to that of his predecessor. Rather than respond aggressively to the North’s provocations, tighten economic