{
  "id": 8119612,
  "title": "China may not block US-NK diplomacy, but unlikely to play central role: ex-US diplomat",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/china-may-not-block-us-nk-diplomacy-but-unlikely-to-play-central-role",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T22:57:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20260918/china-may-not-block-us-nk-diplomacy-but-unlikely-to-play-central-role-ex-us-diplomat"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nDaniel 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.\n\nU.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.\n\nKritenbrink, 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.",
  "summary": "Former U.S. diplomat Daniel Kritenbrink has stated that China is unlikely to play a central role in resuming diplomacy between the United States and North Korea, but is also unlikely to block the efforts. Kritenbrink, who served as assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs from 2021-25, made the remarks in response to questions from Yonhap News Agency ahead of the upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Kritenbrink noted that Beijing will be suspicious of any significant thaw in U.S.-North Korea relations, but may take limited steps to support the diplomatic process. The summit between Trump and Xi is expected to take place in Washington, D.C., next Thursday, with Trump expressing his intention to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "China may not block U.S.-N.K. diplomacy, but unlikely to play central role: ex-U.S. diplomat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/china-may-not-block-u-s-n-k-diplomacy-but-unlikely-to-play-central",
        "published": "2026-09-17T22:42:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "China may not block US-NK diplomacy, but unlikely to play central role: ex-US diplomat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/china-may-not-block-us-nk-diplomacy-but-unlikely-to-play-central-role-8124490",
        "published": "2026-09-17T23:42:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}