The world can't accept North Korea's nuclear normalization

Global Watch | 2025-09-22

The recent high-profile meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing has sent shockwaves through the international community.

For the first time in years, official readouts of their summit omitted any mention of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, a glaring departure from the language that once defined China's stance on North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

This omission is more than a diplomatic oversight; it is a troubling signal that China may be quietly accepting North Korea as a nuclear power. Such a shift, if confirmed, would mark a dangerous turning point in the global effort to curb nuclear proliferation and maintain stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

A troubling signal

Less than a decade ago, China and Russia stood alongside the United States at the United Nations Security Council, voting to tighten sanctions against North Korea in 2016 and 2017. Beijing's support was instrumental in pressuring Pyongyang to engage in dialogue and restrain its nuclear ambitions.

Fast forward to today, and the contrast could not be starker. Xi's warm reception of Kim, coupled with the omission of denuclearization from their summit's official statements, suggests a quiet but significant shift in China's approach. A significant shift aligns with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin's vision for a world order no longer dominated by the United States and its allies.

China's tolerance of Pyongyang and the nuclear threat it brings to Asia-Pacific security indicates that such instability may align with Beijing's strategic interests. As long as disrupting the current global order serves its objectives, China appears willing to provide cover for North Korea.

A dangerous precedent

The tacit acceptance of North Korea's nuclear status by its most powerful ally sends a dangerous message to the world. It signals that nuclear proliferation can be tolerated or even rewarded, if it aligns with the strategic interests of major powers. This undermines decades of international efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and maintain global security.

For the Asia-Pacific region, the implications are particularly dire. North Korea's nuclear arsenal poses a direct threat to its neighbors, including South Korea and Japan, and destabilizes the broader region. By shielding Pyongyang, Beijing risks emboldening other states or actors to pursue similar paths, further eroding the global nonproliferation regime.

The international community must not allow North Korea's nuclear normalization to go unchallenged. While some experts caution that the omission of denuclearization from the Xi-Kim summit may not reflect an official shift in China's stance, the signals are too troubling to ignore.

Diplomatic efforts should focus on holding Beijing accountable for its role in enabling Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. At the same time, the world must strengthen its resolve to enforce existing sanctions and prevent the further spread of nuclear weapons.

The stakes could not be higher. The Asia-Pacific region, already fraught with tensions, can't afford to see the erosion of norms that have long kept the peace.

The world must send a clear message: nuclear weapons are not a tool for leverage, and their proliferation will not be tolerated. As China and Russia move closer to North Korea, the international community must act decisively to prevent the normalization of nuclear weapons and uphold the principles of peace and security. The stakes are too high to stand by and watch.