Abstract: In September 1991, DPRK and ROK were simultaneously admitted to the United Nations since DPRK had changed its long-standing policy. China's "persuasion" played an important role in North Korea's joining the United Nations. North Korea was forced to reluctantly reverse its position on UN membership due to China's unwillingness to veto South Korea's unilateral application. The reason why North Korea was "persuaded" by China is that it hoped that its compromise on the issue of joining UN could be exchanged for the delay of China's establishing diplomatic relations with South Korea. It was a result of the interaction between China and DPRK under a special premise in a special period.

Key words: DPRK, ROK, the United Nations, Sino-DPRK relationship