Xi arrives in Pyongyang for first North Korea visit in seven years

Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Pyongyang on Monday for a two-day state visit, marking his first trip to North Korea since 2019 and his second as head of state. The visit is seen as an effort by Beijing to reassert its influence over Pyongyang and revive a relationship that has experienced cooling periods over the past decade.

Despite their historical alliance, the relationship has been strained by North Korea's nuclear tests and its increasing ties with Russia, while China has strengthened its connections with South Korea. Benoit Hardy-Chartrand, a researcher at the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University's Japan campus, noted that Xi's trip aims to "ensure China maintains its influence over North Korea, which has been strengthening its ties with Russia in recent years." He added, "While China remains, by a wide margin, North Korea's most important trading partner, Pyongyang has always been wary of depending too heavily on Beijing. Therefore, Pyongyang's strengthening relations with Moscow, especially in defense and trade, have been a very positive development" for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The visit follows a series of intensified bilateral contacts. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui visited China in September 2025, Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended an event in Pyongyang in October for the anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited North Korea in April.

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If China continues to support North Korea, it will be difficult for the international community to isolate Pyongyang.

In an article published by the North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun, Xi advocated for the continuation of the China-North Korea alliance, urging both countries to bolster their coordination against "hegemonism" and "power politics." China serves as North Korea's primary political and economic partner, sharing a border of over 1,400 kilometers and playing a crucial role in trade and the supply of food and energy. However, these exchanges are constrained by international sanctions stemming from North Korea's nuclear program.

The trip also occurs after Xi's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing in May. Following that summit, the White House stated that both leaders had confirmed a "shared goal" of denuclearizing North Korea, a formulation absent from China's account of the meeting. Hardy-Chartrand commented, "It is unlikely that President Trump's hopes of resuming dialogue with Kim Jong-un will be met," adding that "the North Korean leader is likely to continue to prioritize the development of his nuclear arsenal and missile programs, as he sees them as essential for his regime's survival."

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The visit is a clear signal that China is not willing to abandon North Korea, despite international pressure.