The U.S. is attempting to persuade China to exert influence over North Korea and Russia, according to AP.

The United States and South Korea have urged China to leverage its influence over Russia and North Korea. This action is necessary to prevent escalation, following Pyongyang's dispatch of thousands of troops to Russia to support Moscow's war against Ukraine. Beijing is currently refraining from comments.

According to Associated Press, during a rare meeting this week, three high-ranking U.S. officials met with the Chinese ambassador to the United States to express concerns and urge China to facilitate a limitation on military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, as stated by a U.S. State Department representative on the condition of anonymity. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned on Thursday that the parties had an "active conversation this week" and that China is aware of the U.S. expectations that "it will use its influence to restrain such actions."

"This is a call not only from us but also from countries around the world," he noted at a press conference in Washington alongside Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and their South Korean counterparts.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, stated that China's position on the crisis in Ukraine is "consistent and clear." China "is committed to peaceful negotiations and a political resolution to the crisis in Ukraine. This position remains unchanged. China will continue to play a constructive role in this regard," Liu added.

The U.S. claims that approximately 8,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia near the Ukrainian border and are preparing to assist the Kremlin in fighting against Ukrainian forces in the coming days. China has yet to publicly comment on this development.

Beijing has a "no limits" partnership with Moscow and is an important ally of Pyongyang. However, experts suggest that China may not support closer military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, as it could destabilize the situation in the region.

The partnership between Russia and North Korea contradicts Beijing's aspirations for a peaceful Korean Peninsula, noted Shi Inhun, an international relations expert from Renmin University in China.

"China is aware of the complexity and dangers of the situation," Shi added, noting that "China's silence regarding the military alliance between North Korea and Russia indicates that it categorically disagrees with it."

Dennis Wilder, a senior fellow at the U.S.-China Dialogue Initiative on Global Issues at Georgetown University, described Beijing's silence as "striking." He explained that China is trying to strike a balance between supporting Moscow and avoiding Western irritation. According to Wilder, Chinese President Xi Jinping likely "prefers to ignore this issue."

At the same time, Xi cannot allow relations with Europe and the U.S. to worsen, especially given the difficulties facing the Chinese economy, Wilder added. "Therefore, he will not say anything publicly about this," Wilder concluded.

Victor Cha, head of the Korea Division at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that China is likely feeling frustration, panic, and uncertainty regarding the current situation.

Whether Beijing was informed in advance about Pyongyang's actions remains unclear, Cha added. China may also be concerned about the possibility that Russia will have greater influence over North Korea than China.

Austin stated on Thursday that China "must pose serious questions to Russia, including whether it intends to escalate the conflict with such actions."

On Tuesday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Dan Kritenbrink, and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs James O'Brien met with Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng in Washington, according to a U.S. State Department official who did not disclose the Chinese side's response.

Lu Chao, director of the Institute of American and East Asian Studies at Liaoning University in China, mentioned that the U.S. should not expect China to manage North Korea.

"China is not obligated to manage North Korea just as the U.S. is not obligated to manage South Korea," Lu stated. "I hope the U.S. government understands China's position."

Lu also added that the deployment of troops is "a matter between Russia and North Korea," and China's position on avoiding escalation of the conflict remains unchanged.

North Korean Troops in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the first North Korean soldiers will be deployed by Russia in combat zones as early as October 27-28. The Main Intelligence Directorate released a video addressing North Korean soldiers in their language, urging them not to engage in the war against Ukraine and to refuse assistance to the Putin regime by surrendering. The video showcased the conditions of the camp where future North Korean prisoners of war may end up.

It is worth noting that the head of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, Mike Turner, stated that the United States should consider the possibility of "direct military action" if North Korean troops enter the war in Ukraine. When asked about the presence of North Korean troops in Russia during a press conference in Kazan, President Vladimir Putin neither confirmed nor denied their presence.

If Bloomberg reports about a group of nearly 10,000 soldiers from North Korea sent to Russia, Ukrainian intelligence claims that there are at least 12,000. Among them are 500 officers, including three generals from Pyongyang. Some of them are already in combat zones, specifically in the Kursk region of Russia, where the Armed Forces of Ukraine are currently conducting operations.