Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea on June 8 for a two-day visit aimed at repairing ties between the two nations, which have become strained due to Pyongyang's close relationship with Russia and the impact of the pandemic.
Unbreakable Friendship Declared
Xi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un celebrated what they termed an "unbreakable" bond in the face of a Western-led global order. This marks Xi's first trip abroad this year after hosting multiple summits in Beijing, and his first visit to the North Korean capital in seven years.
The visit is billed as a commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the friendship and mutual assistance treaty between China and North Korea, which remains China's only defense agreement with another country.
Growing Clout of Pyongyang
The visit underscores North Korea's increasing influence on the world stage. Pyongyang has been a key ally to Russia in its war against Ukraine, supplying munitions and over 12,000 troops. In 2024, Moscow and Pyongyang signed a mutual defense pact.
China and North Korea share a long and complex history. China fought alongside the North during the Korean War and remains its primary economic lifeline. However, Pyongyang maintains its independence and can be unpredictable. Relations soured when North Korea closed its borders to China during the pandemic, but now ties are thawing as China seeks to strengthen its alliance.
New Historical Starting Point
Writing in North Korea's state newspaper Rodong Sinmun, Xi described the relationship as being at a "new historical starting point, facing new development opportunities and shouldering new missions of the times." He added, "China stands ready to work with the DPRK to steer bilateral relations from a strategic perspective, keep China-DPRK relations abreast of the times, and achieve greater development of the relationship."
Denuclearization Discussions
Xi's visit comes less than a month after a summit in Beijing with U.S. President Donald Trump, where North Korea and its nuclear policy were discussed. The U.S. stated that both countries are committed to North Korea's denuclearization, though China did not confirm this. On Sunday, Kim Yo-Jong, Kim Jong Un's sister and a powerful figure in the regime, dismissed claims that the U.S. and China discussed denuclearization as "false."
As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has frequently sided with Russia to veto or abstain from imposing new sanctions on North Korea. Meanwhile, the U.S., South Korea, and Japan have expressed concerns that China may recognize North Korea as a nuclear state. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's annual report released Sunday, North Korea may have enough material for 60 warheads, with the potential to assemble up to 90.
