In a series of recent statements, Russia and China have revived long-dormant discussions about plans to allow Chinese ships to sail down the Tumen River near their border with North Korea in the Far East.

But while progress would enable Beijing to realize its decades-old dream of gaining access to the Sea of Japan, it’s far from certain that Pyongyang will play along.

The issue suddenly resurfaced in Dec. 2023, when Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang held their annual meeting. 

Buried in the lengthy joint communique was an