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Chinese President Xi Jinping receives ceremonial welcome on visit to North Korea
🇸🇮 Slovenia /Elections & Politics

Chinese President Xi Jinping receives ceremonial welcome on visit to North Korea

From Delo · () Slovenian

Translated from Slovenian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea, emphasizing the strong bilateral relationship and pledging further cooperation.
  • This visit marks Xi's first foreign trip of the year and occurs amid stalled denuclearization talks between the U.S. and North Korea.
  • China is North Korea's primary economic partner, accounting for the majority of its foreign trade, which has grown significantly in early 2026.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in North Korea for a state visit, highlighting the robust relationship between the two nations and signaling an intent to strengthen their cooperation. This marks Xi's first overseas journey of the year, following his hosting of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.

Warmly welcome Comrade Xi Jinping

— North Korean hostsA slogan displayed on placards during President Xi Jinping's arrival ceremony.

North Koreans extended a ceremonial welcome to the Chinese leader, complete with military honors. Placards displayed messages such as "Warmly welcome Comrade Xi Jinping," celebrating the "unbreakable friendship" between the two countries. Chinese flags were prominently displayed alongside North Korean flags throughout the capital, Pyongyang.

The visit unfolds against a backdrop of stalled denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Despite recent meetings between Trump and Xi, where both sides reportedly shared the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, asserted shortly before Xi's arrival that North Korea's nuclear program is an "irreversible and final decision that must be unconditionally implemented."

unbreakable friendship

— North Korean hostsA phrase used to describe the relationship between China and North Korea during Xi's visit.

China serves as North Korea's crucial economic partner, handling the bulk of its foreign trade. This economic reliance grants Beijing significant leverage over Kim Jong Un's regime. Trade volume between the two nations surged by 22% in early 2026 compared to the previous year. North Korea primarily imports fuel, food, machinery, and other industrial goods from China, while exporting items such as wigs, artificial hair, minerals, seafood, and iron and steel products through China. Additionally, North Korean laborers working abroad, mainly in China and Russia, provide a significant source of revenue.

irreversible and final decision that must be unconditionally implemented

— Kim Yo JongSister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, commenting on the country's nuclear program shortly before Xi's visit.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delo in Slovenian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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