Since 1961, China and North Korea have been officially allied through the China-Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance. The main goal of this treaty is to ensure mutual military assistance and protection between the two states. Today, sixty-one years later, this treaty still stands. However, the relationship between China and North Korea has been shifting over the past six decades. In 1961, China and North Korea were primarily aiming to be military partners. However, today they are shifting away from focusing on the military aspect of their relationship and moving towards putting a heavier focus on being strategic political assets to one another. This shift is being driven by changing situations in the international community, such as North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and the escalating rivalry between the United States and China. Given the sometimes inconsistent and seemingly irrational actions of these two countries in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue and the United Nations, people may wonder, what does the future of this relationship between China and North Korea look like? The ability of this relationship to evolve and mold itself to fit changing international situations is going to allow it to survive and strengthen for many years to come. This conclusion has been proven through qualitative research and analysis of each article contained in the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, as well as analysis of the impacts of the North Korean nuclear crisis, the United States-China rivalry, and China’s growing power.