Beijing, June 7: Chinese President Xi Jinping will embark on a two-day state visit to North Korea starting June 8. This marks his first trip to the country since 2019. During this visit, he is expected to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues.
Analysts believe the primary aim of this visit is to strengthen the traditional strategic partnership between China and North Korea. In recent years, there have been speculations about a growing distance in their relationship due to North Korea’s increasing ties with Russia. However, Kim Jong Un’s visit to China last September and his meeting with Xi Jinping indicated a renewed commitment to their friendship.
China’s state news agency Xinhua has described this visit as “historic,” suggesting it will lay a new framework for the development of relations between the two nations.
This visit comes at a time when Xi Jinping has recently held separate summits with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is believed that China aims to enhance its diplomatic influence on the global stage while also redefining its strategic relationship with North Korea.
On the other hand, North Korea seeks to maintain its economic dependence on China. Amid indications from the U.S. expressing a desire for dialogue, Pyongyang is working to strengthen its support from Beijing.
Just before the visit, Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, reiterated North Korea’s status as a nuclear power, dismissing any possibility of denuclearization. The world will be watching closely to see what messages Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un convey regarding the security of the Korean Peninsula and nuclear issues.
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