Xi Jinping makes rare visit to North Korea

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China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea Monday, first trip abroad this year following numerous summits in Beijing. Xi praised a “formidable friendship” with Pyongyang, emphasizing their unbreakable bond. This visit underscores China’s longstanding role as North Korea’s primary trading partner and vital supporter despite international sanctions.

Military personnel greeted Xi with a red carpet as his plane landed, and Kim Jong Un along with his wife Ri Sol-ju welcomed him. Children presented flowers, and banners celebrating China’s enduring alliance with North Korea were displayed beneath flags of both nations. Xi traveled accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan for this significant visit, the first since 2019.

During the visit, Kim’s sister reaffirmed North Korea’s commitment to its nuclear program, describing it as “the red line of no retreat.” Meanwhile, South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung urged continued efforts towards denuclearization, noting that North Korea is actively producing nuclear material. Diplomacy experts suggest that Beijing might now accept North Korea as a nuclear state but will prioritize stability above all.

Analysts believe China’s strategy has shifted towards ensuring regime durability over persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear arsenal. Beijing appears to facilitate a stable, armed buffer zone that absorbs U.S. and allied military pressures, especially as North Korea resists international calls to denuclearize.

Since the 2019 summit failure, North Korea has declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear power and has gained support from Russia amidst the Ukraine conflict, increasing its regional leverage. Some experts see Xi’s visit as a move to counter Russia’s influence over Pyongyang, but others point out that Moscow’s influence remains weaker compared to China’s.

Xi wrote in North Korea’s official newspaper emphasizing the enduring “invincible” friendship between the two countries, regardless of changing international dynamics. His previous encounter with Kim involved inviting him and Putin to a military anniversary parade in Beijing, further highlighting military and diplomatic ties.

South Korean guides and officials hope North Korea might adopt China’s development model, which could reduce tensions on the peninsula. Despite the lack of progress in U.S.-North Korea negotiations, North Korea’s exclusive military alliance with China offers strategic value as a regional counterbalance against U.S. partners like Japan and South Korea.

Meanwhile, tensions in the region have intensified, especially with deteriorating China-Japan relations over Taiwan. Russian and Chinese interests seem aligned in maintaining stability and regional influence, with expert Lim Eul-chul observing that China is working to deepen its diplomatic engagement with North Korea as part of its broader regional strategy.