North Korea-China Train, North Korea-Russia Road: Strengthen Korea-U.S.-Japan Alliance

The first passenger train from Pyongyang arrived in Beijing at 8:40 a.m. on the 13th, marking the resumption of rail service between North Korea and China after a six-year hiatus. The passenger train, which has symbolized North Korea-China friendship since its 1954 inauguration, had been suspended since January 2020 due to border closures to prevent COVID-19 spread and strained bilateral relations. The resumption reflects both countries' intent to publicly demonstrate the restoration of their relationship.

Separately, a vehicle road connecting North Korea and Russia via the Tumen River border appears close to completion. According to 38 North, a North Korea-focused media outlet, the Tumen River bridge between the two countries, which broke ground in March last year, already has its deck connected. The bridge opening, originally scheduled for late this year, is likely to be significantly accelerated. Once vehicle traffic becomes possible, trade and military supply movements between the two countries could intensify.

The heightened North Korea-China and North Korea-Russia ties are significant as U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China on the 31st approaches. The reopening of the North Korea-China rail route ahead of the U.S.-China summit suggests Chinese President Xi Jinping's strategic intent to leverage influence over North Korea as negotiating power against the United States. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, having witnessed U.S. military operations against Venezuela and Iran, likely calculated that showcasing China and Russia as backers would strengthen deterrence and benefit future North Korea-U.S. dialogue. It cannot be ruled out that Chairman Kim, who recently signaled openness to conditional talks with the United States, may visit China during President Trump's trip.

While the geopolitical dynamics surrounding the Korean Peninsula are shifting rapidly, South Korea remains notably quiet. Unlike Japan, which is aggressively pursuing U.S.-Japan alliance strengthening—including joint weapons production and expanded intelligence sharing—at the May 19th summit, South Korea stands idle even as U.S. Forces Korea weapons are being redeployed to the Middle East. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's U.S. visit also yielded no meaningful outcomes. To avoid being marginalized amid the rapidly changing Northeast Asian diplomatic and security landscape, South Korea must urgently enhance communication with the United States and strengthen Korea-U.S.-Japan coordination. Only then can robust deterrence against North Korea be maintained. Strategic cooperation with China, which can play a role in North Korean nuclear issues and North Korea-U.S. dialogue, must not be neglected either.