Chinese leader Xi Jinping will journey to North Korea soon, marking his first visit in nearly seven years. Both governments announced this on Friday. This visit reflects China’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with its nuclear-armed neighbor.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has improved ties with Russia lately, notably helping in its conflict with Ukraine. Despite this, he is also working to strengthen relations with China, North Korea’s largest trade partner and aid source. William Yang, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, stated, “Xi’s visit aims to reassert China’s influence over Pyongyang and safeguard its strategic interests in northeast Asia.” The visit is scheduled from Monday to Tuesday, according to state media from both countries. Xi last visited in June 2019. The trip aims to advance bilateral relations and promote regional peace, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday.
Mao Ning, a spokeswoman, noted that the relationship between China and the DPRK has developed steadily, providing benefits to both nations. Xi’s visit follows recent high-profile meetings in Beijing with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
For the United States, North Korea’s nuclear ambitions are a significant concern, and the U.N. has applied economic sanctions against North Korea due to its nuclear activities. North Korea’s recent inauguration of a facility for producing nuclear bomb material underscored this issue. Kim Jong Un announced plans to expand nuclear capabilities “at an exponential rate.” Analysts believe this reveals Kim’s wish to reinforce his country’s nuclear status before Xi’s visit, seeking to leverage this for international recognition and relief from sanctions. Kim aims for arms reduction talks with the U.S., exchanging partial nuclear concession for sanctions relief.
His attention has been on expanding the nuclear arsenal since diplomacy with Trump stalled in 2019. Trump has shown interest in reviving talks with Kim, but Kim insists the U.S. must first drop the demand for total denuclearization.
Observers are keen to know China’s stance during Xi’s visit regarding North Korea’s nuclear status. In their meeting last September, Xi and Kim pledged mutual support and cooperation. Kim was in Beijing for a military parade with leaders like Putin. Russia and China, as permanent U.N. Security Council members, have thwarted attempts by the U.S. and other nations to toughen sanctions against North Korea.
Putin and Xi, in a recent Kremlin statement, expressed opposition to isolating policies and sanctions against North Korea. Kim, advocating for a “new Cold War” and multipolar world, is expanding ties with countries confronting the U.S. Xi’s travel abroad has been limited since the COVID-19 pandemic, with his last visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where he met with Trump.