Regarding the July 8 AP article "Bellicose North Korea promises cheer": Chinese President Xi Jinping's two-day state visit to South Korea, which political analysts judged successful in deepening mutual trust, has cornered North Korea.
The missiles fired into the East Sea [before the visit] demonstrated just how anxious the regime is about the increasingly cooperative partnership between South Korea and China.
With more interest in maximizing economic ties and maintaining regional supremacy where the United States still wields strong political clout, China needs South Korea's cooperation. So, while it's still true that China shares a closer relationship with the North than with the South, it is unlikely that China will continue as young Kim Jong Un's unfailing ally.
Kim's regime must adopt a new course of action. Sitting for talks without deceit and conditions may be the first step.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.