Xi Jinping visits North Korea amid concerns over Kim Jong Un's deepening ties with Russia
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday for his first visit to North Korea since 2019, seeking to strengthen Beijing's relationship with the regime. The visit comes as North Korea has expanded military and trade cooperation with Russia, prompting China to reassert its influence over its traditional ally. Experts view the early timing—a month before the 65th anniversary of the China-North Korea treaty—as a sign of Xi's anxiety about Pyongyang drifting toward Moscow.
Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea marks his first trip since 2019 and occurs at a critical moment in regional geopolitics. North Korea has significantly deepened its military relationship with Russia, including providing troops to support Moscow's war in Ukraine, which has prompted China to move quickly to consolidate its influence. In a letter published ahead of the visit, Xi emphasized the "unbreakable" nature of China-North Korea ties. Analysts note that Xi's decision to visit a month early—rather than waiting for the July 11 treaty anniversary—signals Beijing's concern about losing ground to Russia. The visit also provides Kim Jong Un an opportunity to boost North Korea's international legitimacy and potentially secure membership in China-led multilateral organizations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, while leveraging Chinese economic support to address North Korea's domestic economic challenges.
What different sources said
- Deutsche WelleCenter
Can Xi bring North Korea closer into Beijing's orbit?
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