As tensions between the United States and North Korea continue to escalate, China’s role in restoring friendly relations and a peaceful balance has become more important than ever. In “Inconvenient Borders: Where China and North Korea Meet,” ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff travels the 880 miles of border between China and North Korea Valuable perspective on delicate and complex relationships.
The two countries once cooperated harmoniously. With the rise of Kim Jong-un in 2012, that partnership began to unravel. The notoriously reclusive North Korean leader has made few attempts to reach out to Chinese President Xi Jinping, even though his country remains heavily dependent on China for trade. Evidence of this is seen throughout the film, including footage examining the now-abandoned reunification bridge built by the previous regime.
Interviews with Chinese citizens confirm their distrust of their neighbors. As curious onlookers peered through binoculars at the seemingly mundane activity taking place across the border, they were warned not to take pictures or provoke the North Koreans in any way.
Of course, recent headlines have reminded the world that all the activity on the other side of the line is anything but ordinary. Kim Jong-un appears to be growing increasingly unhinged, and his relentless nuclear tests further stoke the patience and tone of relations in the region. In some parts of the border, the Chinese felt the tremors of each explosion, fueling fears and greater hopes for a peaceful resolution.
The film offers viewers a glimpse into how trade continues to thrive despite recently announced sanctions, how thousands of Chinese troops guard the border to keep defectors from the other side, and the breathtaking beauty that separates the two countries. view.
An Inconvenient Border: Where China Meets North Korea best illustrates China’s general attitude toward North Korea and its recent questionable tactics. Each interviewee shared their thoughts and concerns about the recent missile test, what they believe motivated the North Korean dictator, and ways to avoid further escalation in this daunting conflict.
