Xi to Visit North Korea for Summit With Kim

Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea next week for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, marking his first visit to the country since 2019.

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State media in both countries said Xi will be in Pyongyang from 8 to 9 June at Kim's invitation. The visit comes at a time of shifting regional dynamics and growing attention on North Korea's relationships with both China and Russia.

China Remains North Korea's Key Partner

China is North Korea's largest trading partner and its most important diplomatic backer. The two countries share a 1,400km border and are linked by a mutual defence treaty signed 65 years ago. The agreement remains China's only formal military alliance.

North Korea continues to face extensive international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme and allegations of human rights abuses, making Beijing a vital economic lifeline for Pyongyang.

Analysts expect Kim to seek stronger economic cooperation during Xi's visit, including expanded cross-border trade and an increase in Chinese tourism. North Korea has invested heavily in new tourism projects, including beach and ski resorts, and is looking to attract more visitors.

Balancing Russia's Growing Influence

The summit follows a period of intensified engagement between Pyongyang and Moscow. North Korea has deepened ties with Russia since supporting its war effort in Ukraine, raising questions about the future balance of influence among the three countries.

While Beijing maintains close relations with both North Korea and Russia, China is viewed as cautious about the strengthening partnership between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

For Kim, the visit offers an opportunity to demonstrate North Korea's international standing after emerging from years of pandemic-related isolation. He has increasingly showcased the country's military capabilities and infrastructure projects while stressing its independence from both Washington and Seoul.

Focus on Diplomacy and Nuclear Issues

South Korea hopes Xi's visit could help revive diplomatic efforts on the Korean Peninsula. Since late 2024, North Korea has abandoned reunification initiatives with the South, cut communication channels and adopted a more confrontational stance toward Seoul.

South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said he believes discussions between Xi and Kim could include the possibility of restarting talks between North Korea and the United States.

North Korea's nuclear programme is also expected to feature prominently in the talks. Although China has traditionally supported denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, Beijing has placed less public emphasis on the issue in recent years.

Following a recent meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump, the White House said both leaders reaffirmed support for the goal of North Korean denuclearisation. However, China's foreign ministry did not explicitly confirm that account, saying only that its position had remained consistent.

Pyongyang has continued to reject calls to abandon its nuclear ambitions. This week, Kim said the country's capacity to produce weapons-grade nuclear material had more than doubled over the past five years as he visited a newly built nuclear facility, according to state media.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 5 June 2026

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