China–North Korea relations

The bilateral relations between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have been generally friendly, officially described as a traditional friendly and cooperative relationship, although they have been somewhat strained in the 21st century because of North Korea's nuclear program.

China and North Korea established diplomatic relations on 6 October 1949, five days after the declaration of the PRC. In 1950, China intervened in the Korean War through the People's Volunteer Army after the North Korean forces had been shattered by United Nations/United States forces, successfully ensuring North Korea's survival. In 1961, China and North Korea signed a mutual aid and co-operation treaty, which is currently the only defense treaty China has with any nation. North Korea attempted to not take sides during the Sino-Soviet split, though relations deteriorated during the Cultural Revolution, leading North Korea to move closer to the Soviet Union. Though improving in the 1970s, the relations weakened after China refused North Korean plans to reinvade South Korea. The relations deteriorated further in the 1980s when China began reform and opening up, which led China to open up to Western countries and their allies including South Korea, which led to the full normalization of diplomatic relations with the south in 1992.

The reform and opening up also led China to decrease economic aid to North Korea, though China gave aid during the 1990s North Korean famine. The dissolution of the Soviet Union increased North Korea's dependence on China. In the 21st century, China–North Korea relations declined due to sanctions regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons program, which China opposes. China condemned the 2006 North Korean nuclear test, as well as the subsequent nuclear tests in 2009, 2013, January 2016, September 2016 and 2017. China abstained during a 2017 United Nations Security Council vote about sanctions on North Korea, leading it to be approved. Relations have again been increasingly close since 2018, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un making multiple trips to Beijing to meet Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Xi Jinping, who himself visited Pyongyang in June 2019. During the 2020s, China started omitting mentioning denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

China maintains an embassy in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and a consulate general in Chongjin. The embassy of North Korea in China is located in Beijing's Chaoyang District, while a consulate general is in Shenyang. China is by far North Korea's largest trading partner, with more than 90 percent of North Korea's imports coming from China, while North Korea is a significant recipient of overseas Chinese aid. As socialist states ruled by communist parties, the two nations retain ideological ties. North Korea has adhered to the one China principle, recognizing the PRC as the only representative of China and Taiwan as part of China. North Korea also supports China's policies in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, and rejects interference in China's internal affairs.