North Korea challenges China’s border telecoms plans in rare protest

Pyongyang claims Beijing failed to consult it about the deployment, potentially indicating strained communications between the two

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Buildings are seen on the North Korean side of the Yalu River from Dandong earlier this month. Proposed radio stations in the Chinese border city could cause “serious interference”, Pyongyang claimed. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 10:55am, 26 Aug 2024Updated: 10:59am, 26 Aug 2024

North Korea has taken a stance opposing China’s plans to install telecommunications facilities near the border in a recent email to an international frequency management organisation - a rare revelation of a diplomatic action by Pyongyang to express dissatisfaction with Beijing.

According to the email obtained by reporters, North Korea also complained that China failed to consult it about the plans in advance, a sign that the two countries long known for close economic ties may have a problem in bilateral communication.

The dispute occurred after the Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union made the information about terrestrial networks available to relevant countries in June, including China’s plan to set up 191 facilities for purposes such as FM radio broadcasting.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of relations between North Korea and China, its long-time economic benefactor.

But Pyongyang has sought closer ties with Russia, especially in the defence sector, through activities such as sealing a strategic partnership treaty in June between its leader Kim Jong-un and President Vladimir Putin, a move diplomatic sources in Beijing said displeased China.

An engineer checks power transmission equipment in Dandong last month. North Korea said it was especially opposed to proposed radio stations in the northeastern Chinese city. Photo: Xinhua

North Korea said that some of the proposed radio stations are “located in the border areas” with the country and it expressed “objection to the registration of those FM stations” in the email dated July 24.