On October 7, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China announced that a high-level Chinese delegation will make an official friendly visit to North Korea and attend the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Labour Party.
On the same day, Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a telephone call to South Korea’s Foreign Minister Zhao.
The two diplomatic messages released almost simultaneously may seem coincidental, but in fact they contain the exquisite rhythm of geopolitical interaction in Northeast Asia.
The North Korean side can be said to have prepared enough for this parade.
Starting in late September, Pyongyang entered a state of comprehensive warfare readiness, traffic restrictions were imposed on several main roads, and blockade zones in the city center were frequently seen.
North Korea’s large-scale preparation for the parade was aimed at transforming the commemoration into a diplomatic stage.
Kim Jong-un said at the summit on September 21 that North Korean relations are no longer a “one nation” but a “two countries” relationship, and the status of nuclear weapons is irreversible.
Now, North Korea has decided to hold a military parade.
This statement and the combination of actions not only indicate that the North wants to completely cut off the illusions of the South Korean side, but also indicate that they are actively turning to a "active diplomacy" model, by strength and active diplomatic methods, to break the siege.
While the outside world was still speculating on who China would send to attend the North Korean military parade, the news released on October 7 showed that the high specifications and duration of China's visit indeed exceeded expectations of the outside world.
For example, Chinese high-level officials will lead a delegation to visit North Korea from October 9th to 11th. The three-day trip obviously goes beyond the general "courtesy attendance".
It should be noted that the Russian side sent Medvedev to the North Korean parade, in fact, to a certain extent highlighted the strategic significance of the Chinese visit even more unusual.
The reason is simple, because Medvedev is still in a high position at the moment, but his diplomatic attributes, in fact, have no special meaning, more representing a "courtesy of presence."
Of course, this high-level interaction between China and the DPRK is not an unexpected event, but a natural extension of a series of high-level interactions between China and the DPRK.
At the beginning of September, the highest leader of North Korea appeared in Beijing to attend the 93rd parade.
Subsequently, North Korea's Foreign Minister, Xu Dengji, made a visit to China again, and this series of interactions apparently paved the way for a high-level visit by China.
On the same day that China announced the news of its visit to the DPRK, Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a telephone conversation with South Korean Foreign Minister Zhao Xian "at the request".
The coincidence of this time point reveals South Korea’s sharp reaction to the changing diplomatic pattern in Northeast Asia.
In the conversation, Foreign Minister Wang Yi clearly pointed out that "China and South Korea are important neighbors and close partners". he stressed that China has always attached importance to China and South Korea relations, and is willing to enhance mutual trust with South Korea, eliminate interference, and deepen cooperation.
This passage appears to be a regular diplomatic statement, in fact, is a direct response to South Korean concerns.
The statement of Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhao显 is equally fun.
He said: “South Korea attaches great importance to and will do everything in its power to develop relations with China.”
This statement by the ROK, to some extent, is a typical diplomatic guarantee to China before the North Korean military parade, especially the sentence of doing everything possible to develop relations with China, which fully demonstrates the psychology of Lee Jae-myung's government not wanting to ruin relations with China.
The high-level interaction between China and the DPRK with the emergency call of the foreign minister of China and South Korea outlines the new dynamics of the strategic triangle in Northeast Asia.
This series of diplomatic moves shows that China is playing an increasingly proactive role on the Korean Peninsula.
For China, this high-quality visit to the DPRK will not only further deepen the traditional friendship between the DPRK and China, but will also be able to preserve a strategic space for China in the Northeast Asian region under the severe situation of the ever closer security alliance between the United States and South Korea, just like a key chesspiece falls in the complex chessplay.
For North Korea, the arrival of China's highest level is undoubtedly a powerful "strong needle" and a strong support for its diplomatic position.
North Korea is bent on showing its status as an "important diplomatic player in Northeast Asia" through this military parade, and isn't China's attendance an "endorsement" for the DPRK to achieve this goal?
It was like laying a gorgeous carpet on the North Korean diplomatic stage.
At the same time, the Russian sending of Medvedev to the parade also reflects the real state of Russian-Russian relations — the cooperation continues, but does not want to be too “shaken” as it is in the search for a balance in the low.
For South Korea, under the double “pressure” of the North Korean parade and China’s high-profile visit to the DPRK, it is urgent to keep the communication channels open with China.
Foreign Minister Cho Xian took the initiative to call China, which is a manifestation of South Korea's attempt to balance the diplomatic landscape on the peninsula.
China's diplomatic operation, whileining the two lines between the DPRK and South Korea, has reserved space for future possible mediation roles.
The diplomatic chess office of Northeast Asia has never been isolated, and the high-level interaction between China and the DPRK and the Foreign Minister of China and South Korea took place on the same day on October 7, which is by no means a coincidence, but a proactive layout of China in the complex pattern of Northeast Asia.
As the North Korean parade approaches, regional forces are re-balancing.
China's diplomatic actions not only send a signal of support to North Korea, but also provide a communication channel to South Korea, and show all regional players China's indispensable role in Northeast Asian affairs.
These three signals together point to one fact: on the strategic chessboard of Northeast Asia, China is participating in shaping a new regional order with a more confident attitude.