China will want in on any further international relations involving North Korea.

US President Donald Trump will meet Kim Jong-un later today in Singapore for a historic meeting - although it's unclear what exactly North Korea wants out of it, other than a positive image.

Massey University senior lecturer Marc Lanteigne told Mike Hosking China will want to be part of things too.

"China is looking for first of all a security agreement that benefits their interest so in other words any kind of denuclearisation will also serve Chinese security interests and they will also want to play a role in any diplomacy that comes after it."

LISTEN ABOVE AS MARC LANTEIGNE SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING