China’s Enduring North Korea Alliance Threatens Regional Stability and American Interests

In a telling reminder of China's strategic priorities, President Xi Jinping sent a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un underscoring his desire for an enduring bilateral relationship. This message coincided with Pyongyang’s grand celebration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers' Party — a regime notorious for nuclear brinkmanship and defiance against global norms. While much of the world watches anxiously, Xi's declaration signals unwavering support for a dictatorship that continues to threaten regional stability and directly challenge U.S. interests in East Asia. His pledge to "defend, consolidate and develop" relations "regardless of changes in...