China may not block US-NK diplomacy, but unlikely to play central role: ex-US diplomat
WASHINGTON — China may not block the resumption of diplomacy between the United States and North Korea but is unlikely to play a "central" role in their reengagement, a former senior U.S. diplomat said Thursday, ahead of the upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Daniel Kritenbrink, who served as assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific…
WASHINGTON — A former U.S. diplomat has suggested that China may not impede the resumption of talks between the United States and North Korea, but is unlikely to assume a central role in their reengagement, according to an interview with Yonhap News Agency.
Daniel Kritenbrink, who previously served as assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs from 2021-25, expressed this view when responding to written questions. He noted that Beijing would likely harbor skepticism towards any significant improvement in U.S.-North Korea relations.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet in Washington, D.C., next Thursday. President Trump has hinted at plans to re-establish communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year.
Kritenbrink, currently a partner at The Asia Group, a strategic advisory firm, stated that he does not anticipate China to obstruct U.S.-Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) diplomacy. However, he added that Beijing would also harbor suspicion of such an outcome.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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