On November 8th, President Donald Trump made a diplomatic visit to China’s capital Beijing to discuss with President Xi Jinping on North Korea and their recent incentive on shooting missiles. Tensions are rising with North Korea, and Trump’s visit is one of importance as the United States will have to ensure their presence around North Korea. In perhaps a response to President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit, China decided to establish a travel ban to North Korea.

While China’s travel ban will significantly affect North Korean relations, this isn’t the first time travel bans were imposed, nor was it the first time sanctions were put up against North Korea. Even before North Korea’s recent aggression, there were already sanctions that were put together in retaliation to the Kim regime. This past year, the United Nations proposed a sanction that would deprive North Korea’s already low source of food and resources. The United States then followed up by banning travel to North Korea and pressuring China to stop sending North Korea resources. With all these rules set up against them, North Korea decides to retaliate themselves by “testing” missiles by shooting them around Japanese territory.

North Korea’s sudden and unprecedented aggression posed a threat to the U.S. allies and even to United States themselves. Their missile technology is constantly improving and might even be good enough to reach the American west coast. In response, President Donald Trump mocked Kim Jong Un by calling him “rocket man” and further reiterated his discontent with North Korea. All of this led to Trump’s recent Asia tour as he tries to strengthen diplomatic ties with the countries he visits.

China’s travel ban is significant for several reasons. For starters, this proves the influence United States still have on East Asia. On top of that, the travel ban also signifies the change that is happening within China. Previously China had supported North Korea because of their similar political ideologies and their status as a buffer from US allies. However, China’s travel ban on North Korea shows their disapproval of the Kim regime. To top it off, China was North Korea’s number 1 partner and tourism was one of the major income of the North Korean economy, which would mean that the travel ban will pose a major threat on the North Korea’s already small economy.

The future is uncertain with the North Korea’s unstable government, economy, and diplomatic relations. China’s travel ban may very well be the cornerstone of the deterioration of the Kim Regime. Whether if North Korea’s deterioration is unlikely or a possibility, only time could tell. Students at our school put their two cents on the possible long term effects of the travel ban to North Korea. “In all honesty, results from the recent ban could be devastating for the North Korean economy” John says. “They will have to find new sources of money and wealth”. Veronica Gonzales (12) gives a more different approach to the North Korean travel ban. “China is becoming more liberal than North Korea, but I don’t really think that they’re accepting western ideologies as much. North Korea isn’t going to change if they don’t have an ally to slowly change them”.

Whether history goes one way or another, both scenarios would affect the United States in some shape, way, or form. With China’s travel ban, the future of North Korea will change and it very well may be in favor of the United States. President Trump and President Xi Jinping as of writing this article seem to be planning on continuing with their sanctions on North Korea.