Kim Jong Un’s mysterious and unexpected visit to Beijing, his first reported instance of travel outside North Korea since assuming power, captivated the world and added a significant new variable to Kim’s ongoing diplomatic offensive, which previously appeared to exclude China.

The breakthrough in China’s relationship with North Korea is a boon for Xi Jinping, who, despite furthering Chinese leadership in many parts of the world, has long struggled to curb Pyongyang’s provocative nuclear and missile tests in its backyard. However, though Kim alluded to a willingness to denuclearize, the DPRK leader does