Wilson Center Digital Archive

China-North Korea Relations

This collection of documents probes the relationship between China and North Korea from the 1940s through the 1980s. While often described as being "as close as lips to teeth," this collection highlights instances of both cooperation and mistrust between China and North Korea. See also the Digital Archive collection on Repatriation to North Korea.

March 07, 1967

The DPRK Attitude Toward the So-called 'Cultural Revolution' in China

The Soviet Embassy reports on the deterioration of Chinese-North Korean relations as a result of the Cultural Revolution in China.
March 09, 1967

Report, Embassy of Hungary in North Korea to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry

A report on a meeting between Kim Il Sung and the Cuban Ambassador in which the North Koreans criticize China, report on North Korea's relations with Cuba and Yugoslavia, and comment on nuclear nonproliferation.
April 07, 1967

Telegram from Pyongyang to Bucharest, No.14.213, TOP SECRET, April 7, 1967

Ionescu Teofil and the Chinese counselor in Pyongyang discuss the "great revolutionary event" in North Korea and the state of play in Sino-North Korean relations.
April 11, 1967

Report, Embassy of Hungary in China to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry

Kim Jae-seok reports on North Korea's stance regarding China's Cultural Revolution.
May 20, 1967

Telegram from Pyongyang to Bucharest, No.76.171, TOP SECRET, May 20, 1967

A description of the deteriorating relationship between North Korea and China.
May 31, 1967

Notice from the First Machine Building Ministry Concerning Suspension of the Preparatory Work for Receiving North Korean Trainees

Notice from the First Machine Building Ministry suspending all preparatory work in connection with the reception of trainees for training in connection with aid to North Korea.
June 02, 1967

On Some Issues of Soviet-Korean Relations

The Czechoslovakian Ambassador to Moscow reports on Soviet-North Korean relations, describing a visit to the Soviet Union by Kim Il Sung and a North Korean delegation which was meant to increase economic cooperation between the two countries.
June 15, 1967

Telegram from Pyongyang to Bucharest, No. 76.208, TOP SECRET, June 15, 1967

Chinese and Romanian diplomats review Sino-North Korean relations and the recent purges of Pak Geum-cheol and other leading officials from the Korean Workers' Party.
June 26, 1967

Excerpt from Information Report Embassy Bucharest of 26 June 1967

East German diplomats report on U.S. foreign policy in South Korea, and allege that China wishes to overthrow Kim Il Sung.
August 18, 1967

Information about Some New Aspects on Korean Workers' Party Positions concerning Issues of Domestic and Foreign Policy

The Acting East German Ambassador to North Korea discusses Kim Il Sung's leadership and cult of personality, Korean reunification, and North Korea's foreign relations with China and Japan.
November 13, 1967

50th Anniversary of the October Revolution in the DPRK

The East Germany Embassy reports that "relations between DPRK and PRC are also tense and a source of concern for the Korean comrades."
November 20, 1967

Report, Embassy of Hungary in China to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry, 20 November 1967

A report on a hostile sentiment between North Korea and PRC after the Cultural Revolution.
November 25, 1967

Report, Embassy of Hungary in the Soviet Union to the Hungarian Foreign Ministry

The Hungarian Embassy in the Soviet Union reports that Sino-Korean relations continue to deteriorate, along with the capabilities of the Korean People's Army.
December 22, 1967

Letter from GDR Embassy in the DPRK to State Secretary Hegen

The German Ambassador in the DPRK discusses domestic and foreign policy developments within the DPRK, including the cult of personality of Kim Il Sung and North Korea's relationship with China.
March 03, 1968

On Current Relations between the DPRK and the PRC

The GDR Embassy in North Korea says that relations between Beijing and Pyongyang have improved following the Blue House Raid and USS Pueblo incident.
April 23, 1968

Memorandum On the Visit of the Party and Government Delegation of the GDR, led by Comrade Prof. Dr. Kurt Hager, with the General Secretary of the KWP and Prime Minister of the DPRK, Comrade Kim Il Sung, on 16 April 1968, 5:00p.m. until 6:50 p.m.

In a meeting with Dr. Kurt Hager, Kim Il Sung fully says he fully supports East Germany GDR and describes North Korea's relations with other Communist countries.
July 29, 1968

A Conversation with the 1st Secretary of the Embassy of the USSR in the DPRK, Comrade Zvetkov, and Comrade Jarck.

With the lack of coal, coke, water, steel, and iron Kim Il Sung expresses the domestic problems in the DPRK to Comrade Novikov. He thanks the USSR for their aid and stresses the importance of the organization of Communist countries especially after the Pueblo incident.
January 06, 1969

First Secretary of the Soviet Embassy in North Korea, 'Korean-Chinese Relations in the Second Half of 1968'

The document examines Sino-Korean relations by analyzing international relations with US and Japan, describing how the ideology of Mao affects the relationship, and discussing trade relations and military relations.
March 17, 1969

Record of Conversation between N.G. Sudarikov and Kim Il Sung, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea

Kim Il Sung discusses an armed clash with Americans in the demilitarized zone and an incident in the Korean-Chinese border. He discusses Sino-Korean relations thoroughly as well.
April 25, 1969

Deputy Chief of the 1st Main Directorate of the Committee for State Security, 'Concerning Korean-Chinese Relations'

The document describes several provocations between the DPRK and China in 1968.