DistantNews
Support us
Xi Jinping plans two-day visit to North Korea next week
🇲🇽 Mexico /Economy & Trade

Xi Jinping plans two-day visit to North Korea next week

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea for two days next week, state media reported.
  • The announcement follows North Korea's unveiling of a new facility for nuclear bomb fuel production.
  • Beijing is a vital diplomatic and economic lifeline for Pyongyang, despite international sanctions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to make a two-day state visit to North Korea from June 8-9, according to Chinese state media. The trip, at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, marks a significant engagement between the two closely allied nations.

The visit comes just a day after North Korea revealed a new facility for producing nuclear bomb fuel. Kim Jong Un announced plans to exponentially strengthen the country's nuclear forces during a visit to the plant. Experts suggest this revelation signals Kim's eagerness to solidify North Korea's status as a nuclear power before Xi's arrival.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and president of the People's Republic of China, will pay a state visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from June 8 to 9.

— CCTVState media announced the dates of Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea.

China remains a crucial source of diplomatic and political support for North Korea, a heavily sanctioned and isolated state. As Pyongyang's largest trading partner, China's economic support is vital, accounting for 20% of North Korea's foreign trade last year.

Despite their close ties, visits by Chinese presidents to North Korea are infrequent. Xi's last visit was seven years ago, with the previous presidential trip occurring in 2005. Xi previously hosted Kim in Beijing last September, extending an invitation to a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan in World War II.

plans to reinforce the country's nuclear forces at an exponential pace

— Kim Jong UnKim Jong Un announced plans for North Korea's nuclear program during a visit to a new fuel production facility.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog