This book develops a new approach to exploring China's relations with North Korea that utilises the concept of developmental peace. Bringing together various strands of Chinese thinking on the mutually reinforcing relationship between economic development, state stability, and international peace and security, the book provides novel insights into Chinese prescriptions for tackling North Korea's interrelated military and human security challenges.

Contributors demonstrate how the lens of developmental peace helps to explain the rationale behind, as well as contradictions and challenges in, China's relations with North Korea on a range of issues such as denuclearisation, water and energy security, human rights, and economic development. Featuring top scholars from China and South Korea, as well as primary evidence from China, North and South Korea, the book greatly improves the understanding of the current perspectives in each state, and the impact they have on this vital security relationship.

Asian studies - and in particular Chinese studies - scholars will appreciate the in-depth analysis of China's approach to relations with North Korea, as well as the first-hand evidence used. The analysis of the difficulties in China providing a singular approach to its relations will be useful to policy-makers and scholars looking into the complexities of foreign policy.