Photo of the banquet hall during the inter-Korean summit released by Korean Central Television on the 6th. [Yonhap News] President Xi Jinping visited North Korea from June 8th to 9th. Many political, military, and North Korea experts have written extensively on this matter. I am neither a political nor a military expert, nor do I possess the capability to be one, but I will offer a few words from the perspective of a North Korean.

First, Xi Jinping's purpose for visiting North Korea was not as straightforward as many might believe. It was a somewhat awkward visit, particularly given that he was in no position to lecture Kim Jong-un on issues like nuclear weapons.

Currently, Xi Jinping finds himself in a precarious situation due to U.S. President Trump, having lost Venezuela and Iran, facing a severe economic downturn, and dealing with domestic political challenges. He is particularly in a position where he completely capitulated in his talks with Trump and even agreed on the necessity of resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.

Therefore, Xi Jinping's visit was a reluctant one, driven by an obsession to avoid losing North Korea, which was already drifting away, and to explain, albeit awkwardly, the results of his talks with Trump to Kim Jong-un.

Consequently, during this visit, Xi Jinping made significant efforts to mend relations with North Korea, which had been growing distant, and maintain the alliance by using economic aid as a lure.

Second, while some may believe that the North Korean nuclear issue was discussed, that is absolutely not the case. Xi Jinping is well aware that he has no right to say anything to North Korea about the nuclear issue. He also knows that any attempt to force the issue would immediately end North Korea-China relations.

Xi Jinping is well aware that North Koreans harbor very negative sentiments towards China and that China is not in a position to dictate to North Korea.

Therefore, Xi Jinping did not utter a single word about the North Korean nuclear issue, which he had discussed with President Trump, during this visit.

Third, some people mistakenly believe that Xi Jinping resolved China's access to the East Sea via the Tumen River. This is a grave miscalculation. In April, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited North Korea first to raise this issue, but he returned empty-handed without receiving a definitive answer.

North Korea offered only ambiguous diplomatic responses regarding the Tumen River development project, neither a firm "no" nor a definite "yes." This time, Xi Jinping also left without receiving any concrete commitment, despite promising substantial aid.

In reality, the issue of the Tumen River opening is extremely serious. The lower 17-kilometer section of the Tumen River forms the border between Russia and North Korea. If the Tumen River is opened, the operational sphere of the Chinese navy would extend to not only the Korean Peninsula but also Russia and Japan.

Therefore, neither Russia nor North Korea would ever permit this. Especially considering North Korea views China as an enemy for a thousand years, it is inconceivable that they would allow it.

There is one point that needs to be addressed here. Some political scientists suggest that Putin, trapped in the Russia-Ukraine war, might approve the Tumen River issue, but this is incorrect. As the proverb goes, "Even rotten cutlassfish is still cutlassfish"; no matter how cornered Putin may be, he is not foolish enough to allow China to backstab him.

Furthermore, some people believe that a starving North Korea would open the Tumen River and grant access to the East Sea in exchange for economic aid. This is an ignorant and foolish judgment that reveals a complete lack of understanding of North Korea.

Some Koreans believe that North Korea is in China's hands. However, it is North Korea that holds China's weaknesses and exploits them for its own benefit. For China, North Korea is like a hot potato that it can neither discard nor swallow.

In conclusion, Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea merely inflated Kim Jong-un's perceived value and nothing more. Instead, it appears that China will end up sending supplies, promised in an attempt to win over North Korea's favor. Currently, Kim Jong-un is being lauded as a genius of diplomacy, with widespread praise for him.

Moreover, for some time now, heavy-duty vehicles and construction machinery, manufactured by China 10-20 years ago and left unsold, have been entering North Korea at low prices. This trend is expected to continue.

It doesn't end there. Surveillance cameras, which until a few years ago were only installed around foreign embassies in Pyongyang, are now being widely imported, having been produced by China a decade ago and stockpiled. These cameras are being used to establish a digital surveillance network across the entire country.

China is posing as if it is doing North Korea a favor by giving them goods that have been stockpiled for a decade due to their inability to sell them, at low prices.

South Korea does not need to have overly idealized views of China, nor should it worry excessively. It might sound absurd, but for a long time now, North Korea has been protecting South Korea from Russia and China.

Instead, South Koreans should be concerned about their own actions, obsequiously offering their seas, land, and even their government to China, while chanting "xièxie."

◆ Advisor Kim Tae-san

Advisor to the Hanmi Ilbo, former representative of the North Korean trading company in the Czech Republic. In South Korea, he has served as Vice President of the North Korean Society Research Institute, providing in-depth insights and experience on inter-Korean relations and North Korean issues.