North Korea recently expressed opposition to Chinese plans to set up communications facilities near the border in an email to the International Air Spectrum Management Agency, a rare diplomatic move by Pyongyang to express its displeasure with Beijing.
North Korea also complained that China had not consulted with it in advance about the plans, according to emails seen by reporters, suggesting possible problems with communication between the two countries, long known for their close economic ties.
The dispute arose after the Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union in June released information to the countries involved about China's terrestrial network, including plans to set up 191 facilities for FM radio broadcasting and other purposes.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of ties between North Korea and China, its longtime economic backer.
But North Korea has sought closer ties with Russia, particularly in the area of defense, following the signing of a strategic partnership treaty between leader Kim Jong Un and President Vladimir Putin in June, a move that diplomatic sources in Beijing said has displeased China. Engineers inspect power transmission equipment in Dandong last month. North Korea said it was particularly opposed to plans to build a radio station in the northeastern Chinese city. Photo: Xinhua
North Korea said some of the proposed radio stations were “located in the border areas” with the country and stated in an email dated July 24 that it “opposes the registration of those FM stations.”
Of the 191 stations, 17, including one in the northeastern border city of Dandong, have the potential to cause “serious interference,” the report said.
Pyongyang said Beijing had “never requested prior coordination” and that the move was a “violation” of ITU guidelines and a bilateral agreement signed in 1981. Details of the bilateral agreement were unclear.
“It is rare for a conflict between China and North Korea to become so apparent,” said Atsuto Isozaki, an expert on North Korean politics, adding that reporting patterns in North Korea's official newspaper also showed signs of deteriorating relations.
The Rodong Sinmun has not made any mention of Chinese President Xi Jinping or the 75th anniversary of the establishment of ties between the two countries in recent months, a professor at Japan's Keio University said, adding that the current state of relations does not seem “normal.”Japan, the United States and South Korea expressed “serious concerns over growing pledges of military and economic cooperation” between Pyongyang and Moscow at a meeting of their defense ministers last month.
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