Chinese leader Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit North Korea next week, marking his first trip there in nearly seven years. Both Chinese and North Korean officials confirmed the visit, which highlights China’s efforts to maintain strong ties with North Korea, a country equipped with nuclear weapons.

Recently, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sought to strengthen relations with Russia, including sending troops and conventional weapons to support Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. However, Kim has also been working on improving relations with China, a crucial trading partner and aid provider.

William Yang, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, stated, “As North Korea builds closer ties with Russia, China seeks to use Xi’s trip to reassert its influence over Pyongyang and safeguard its strategic interests in northeast Asia.”

Xi’s upcoming state visit will take place from Monday to Tuesday, according to brief reports from Chinese and North Korean state media. His last visit to North Korea occurred in June 2019, shortly after hosting U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.

North Korea’s nuclear weapons program poses a significant concern for international communities, particularly the United States, which has consistently opposed it. The United Nations has imposed economic sanctions on North Korea due to its nuclear and missile developments.

The announcement of Xi’s trip coincides with North Korea’s reveal of a new facility intended for producing nuclear bomb material, believed to be a uranium enrichment plant. Kim Jong Un has stated his intention to enhance North Korea’s nuclear forces “at an exponential rate,” with experts suggesting the revelation aims to establish North Korea’s nuclear status, potentially leading to demands for sanction relief and arms reduction talks.

Since the collapse of high-stakes diplomacy with Trump in 2019, Kim has prioritized expanding his nuclear arsenal. While Trump has expressed interest in renewing diplomatic ties, North Korea insists the U.S. must first abandon its precondition of denuclearization for talks.

During Xi’s visit, analysts are keen to see China’s stance regarding calls for North Korea’s denuclearization.

Last month, Xi and Kim met at a military parade in Beijing, where they committed to mutual support and enhanced cooperation. Kim attended the event alongside other foreign leaders, including Putin.

Both Russia and China, as permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, have previously hindered efforts to intensify international sanctions on North Korea, despite ongoing weapons tests. A statement from the Kremlin indicated Putin and Xi oppose measures such as economic sanctions and military pressure aimed at isolating North Korea.

Kim’s embrace of a “new Cold War” and multipolar world reflects his ambition for a more assertive foreign policy, expanding connections with nations in conflict with the United States.

Xi’s foreign travels have been limited since the Covid-19 pandemic. His last overseas journey was to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where he met Trump.