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Xi Jinping arrives in North Korea for first visit in seven years
🇩🇪 Germany /Economy & Trade

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

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea for a two-day state visit, his first in seven years.
  • Xi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met upon arrival, with discussions expected on bilateral relations and shared interests.
  • The visit occurs as North Korea's leader has called for expanding nuclear forces, with his sister stating the country's nuclear status is irreversible.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has begun a two-day state visit to North Korea, marking his first trip to the neighboring country in approximately seven years. State media reported Xi's plane landed in the capital, Pyongyang, where he and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were welcomed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol-ju.

new development opportunities

— Xi JinpingXi Jinping's contribution to the North Korean party newspaper Rodong Sinmun.

According to Chinese officials, Xi is expected to discuss bilateral relations and issues of common interest with Kim. Details of the planned talks were not disclosed in advance. However, in a contribution to the North Korean party newspaper Rodong Sinmun shortly before his visit, Xi spoke of "new development opportunities" for the two nations, emphasizing China's "unwavering policy" to build relations with North Korea at all levels.

unwavering policy

— Xi JinpingXi Jinping's contribution to the North Korean party newspaper Rodong Sinmun, referring to China's relations with North Korea.

The visit takes place against a backdrop of North Korea's continued focus on its nuclear capabilities. Kim has recently called for the expansion of the country's nuclear forces. His influential sister, Kim Yo Jong, stated the day before Xi's arrival that North Korea's status as a nuclear-weapon state is an "irreversible reality."

irreversible reality

— Kim Yo JongKim Yo Jong's statement on North Korea's status as a nuclear-weapon state.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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