xiChinese President Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea next week for his first visit to the isolated country in almost seven years, a move widely seen as Beijing’s effort to strengthen ties with its longtime ally and reassert its influence in Pyongyang.
China announced on Friday that Xi will visit North Korea from June 8 to 9, where he is expected to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on bilateral relations and regional security issues.
The trip comes as Beijing seeks to rebuild momentum in its relationship with Pyongyang after years of limited exchanges during the COVID-19 pandemic and North Korea’s growing military partnership with Russia.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said both countries would use the visit to deepen cooperation and advance relations in line with changing global realities.
Behind the diplomatic language, analysts see a broader strategic calculation.
North Korea has moved significantly closer to Moscow since Russia’s war in Ukraine began, supplying troops and military equipment while strengthening political ties with the Kremlin. Xi’s visit is expected to serve as a reminder that China remains North Korea’s most important ally and economic lifeline.
“The message from Beijing is clear: China still sees itself as the key player when it comes to North Korea,” said John Delury, a senior fellow at the Asia Society. “Russia is certainly one of the audiences for that message.”
The visit follows a series of high-profile diplomatic engagements by Xi, including recent meetings in Beijing with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It will also mark Xi’s first overseas trip of the year, underscoring the importance China places on its relationship with North Korea.
Relations between the two neighbours have gradually returned to normal after years of pandemic restrictions. Passenger train services between Beijing and Pyongyang resumed in March after a six-year suspension, while Air China has restarted flights connecting the two capitals. Tourism, however, remains largely restricted.
Xi has visited North Korea only once since becoming China’s leader in 2012. His last trip to Pyongyang took place in 2019, months before the pandemic brought cross-border exchanges to a halt.
The timing of the visit is notable. Earlier this week, Kim called for a dramatic expansion of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal during a visit to a new nuclear materials facility, according to state media.
Some observers believe the announcement was intended to strengthen Pyongyang’s bargaining position ahead of Xi’s arrival. Kim made a similar show of military strength before visiting Beijing last year, when he inspected plans for a new intercontinental ballistic missile.
South Korea has downplayed suggestions that the visit signals closer coordination among China, North Korea and Russia. Officials in Seoul described it as a bilateral engagement and said they expect Beijing to continue playing a constructive role in efforts to maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula.
With tensions across Northeast Asia remaining high, Xi’s visit is likely to be closely watched for clues about how China plans to navigate its relationships with North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States in the years ahead.
