When browsing some Western media outlets, you might encounter a misplaced stereotype about North Korea being a Chinese puppet. Others argue that these two countries are very close allies, recalling how Mao Zedong called the relationship as close as ‘lips and teeth’. However, the reality is that Sino-North Korean relations have never been particularly easy or straightforward. They have been marred by complex twists and turns of history and even today the national interests of both nations remain at odds. Today we will together explore the history and current political intricacies of the Sino-North Korean relations.