Chinese leader Xi Jinping plans to visit North Korea next week, marking his first trip there in nearly seven years. Both countries announced this development on Friday. Xi’s visit represents a strategic move by China to consolidate its ties with North Korea, a nation that possesses nuclear capabilities.
In recent years, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reached out to Russia, providing troops and conventional weapons for Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. Despite this, Kim has been working to improve relations with China, which is North Korea’s largest trading partner and aid provider.
“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,” stated William Yang, an analyst for the International Crisis Group.
Xi will make a state visit from Monday to Tuesday, as reported by both Chinese and North Korean state media. His last visit was in 2019. According to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, the trip aims to strengthen ties and promote regional stability.
Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for the Ministry, highlighted the ongoing development of “traditional friendly and cooperative relations between China and the DPRK,” emphasizing the benefits this relationship brings to both nations.
Xi’s visit follows his recent meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. The topic of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program remains a concern for the United States, which has consistently opposed it. In response to its nuclear and missile activities, the U.N. has placed economic sanctions on North Korea.
The visit announcement coincides with North Korea revealing a new facility for nuclear bomb material production. Although the facility is believed to be a uranium enrichment plant, North Korea has not confirmed this. During his visit to the plant, Kim spoke about plans to expand the nuclear arsenal, aiming for recognition as a nuclear state.
Experts suggest that this disclosure reflects Kim’s intent to strengthen his nuclear state status ahead of Xi’s visit. Kim’s goal is international acknowledgment of his nuclear status, facilitating an easing of sanctions. Analysts predict Kim will eventually negotiate arms reduction talks with the U.S. for concessions in return for partial nuclear capability reduction.
Kim has prioritized nuclear arsenal expansion since his diplomatic efforts with Trump stalled in 2019. Although Trump has expressed interest in reviving diplomacy, Kim insists that the U.S. must first abandon the demand for denuclearization before talks resume.
Observers are keen to see China’s stance on North Korea’s denuclearization during Xi’s visit. Earlier, Xi and Kim met in Beijing, expressing mutual support and cooperation. Kim attended a Chinese military parade with other leaders, including Putin.
Both China and Russia, permanent U.N. Security Council members, have previously obstructed U.S. and others’ efforts to intensify sanctions on North Korea, despite its prohibited weapons tests. Last month in Beijing, Putin and Xi rejected “foreign policy isolation, economic sanctions, and military pressure,” emphasizing their support for North Korea.
Kim has been promoting a more assertive foreign policy aligned with nations in conflict with the United States, embracing the notion of a “new Cold War” and a multipolar world.
Xi’s trip represents a rare international excursion since the COVID-19 pandemic. His last foreign visit was to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where he also met Trump.