North Korea needs China for survival: Why does Beijing need Pyongyang?

North Korea’s ties to China go back to the Korean War more than 70 years ago. Dylan Loh, an associate professor in the public policy and global affairs programme at NTU Singapore, told Al Jazeera that North Korea has historically relied on China as its economic lifeline, supporting its economy and has been its top trading partner by far for a long time. “But beyond relying on Beijing for trade, the DPRK gains international legitimacy and protection from its relationship with China. China is essentially North Korea’s security guarantor,” he said, using the acronym for the country’s official name.

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