China’s Xi stays at exclusive Pyongyang guest house near shrines to former supreme leaders

Chinese President Xi Jinping is residing at Pyongyang's secluded Kumsusan State Guest House during his two-day state visit to North Korea. The guest house, which was first used in 2019, is situated near the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, North Korea's most revered political landmark.

Before the Kumsusan State Guest House was built, North Korea hosted international visitors at the Paekhwawon guest house. This older facility welcomed Chinese presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, as well as former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, during their respective trips to Pyongyang.

Xi was welcomed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the airport, followed by a ceremony at Kim Il-sung Square before proceeding to the guest house. The choice of accommodation underscores the significance of the visit and the close, albeit complex, relationship between the two nations.