Hu Jintao on Kim Jong Il

Hu Jintao consistently viewed his relationship with Kim Jong Il through the strategic lens of maintaining regional stability and preventing the collapse of the North Korean regime, which China feared would lead to US encirclement of its borders. The core evidence of this position rests on his direct diplomatic outreach, most notably sending high-level envoys, including a special envoy carrying a personal letter, to persuade Kim Jong Il to return to multilateral disarmament negotiations. This proactive shuttle diplomacy was a deliberate price paid, despite China's potential financial burden, to repel US influence in Northeast Asia and secure peace on the Korean Peninsula.

This engagement was characterized by a strong emphasis on the bilateral relationship, with Hu Jintao frequently meeting Kim Jong Il during his unofficial visits to China to discuss economic cooperation and the nuclear issue. Hu stressed the importance of inheriting the traditional friendship while encouraging exchanges between the younger generations and supporting North Korea's focus on economic development. However, the underlying motivation for maintaining this friendly posture remained anchored in Chinese national security interests, as the complete collapse of the Kim regime or a major conflict was deemed detrimental to China's stability.