As tensions continue to grow between Washington and Pyongyang, understanding China’s role in enabling or constraining its neighbor is more important than ever. In the lead-up to President Trump’s first trip to China, Isaac Stone Fish provided an overview of China’s relationship with North Korea, examining its interests there and outlining what leverage Beijing has over Pyongyang, as well as examining how the Sino-North Korean relationship affects Sino-American relations. The discussion, conducted on October 24, 2017 in New York, was moderated by A. Robert Pietrzak, who is a partner at Sidley Austin, and a director of the National Committee.

Isaac Stone Fish is an international affairs journalist and a senior fellow at the Asia Society in New York City, on sabbatical from Foreign Policy Magazine. While at Foreign Policy, he was the publication’s Asia Editor, managing coverage of the region and writing about the politics, economics, and international affairs of China, Japan, and North Korea. Formerly a Beijing correspondent for Newsweek, Mr. Stone Fish spent seven years living in China prior to joining Foreign Policy.