China’s President Xi returns home after closely watched trip to North Korea
Xi and Kim pledged broader cooperation in trade, technology and security, while state reports did not mention denuclearization.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing on Tuesday following a two-day visit to Pyongyang, North Korea, his first in seven years, during which he met with leader Kim Jong-un to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation.
- The visit occurred as North Korea gains leverage from its advancing nuclear program and growing ties with Russia, which now provides "dual patronage." Beijing remains Pyongyang's principal economic lifeline, supplying goods and connectivity Moscow cannot fully substitute.
- During the summit, leaders pledged to expand cooperation in trade, agriculture, and technology, with Kim reaffirming support for China's "one-China" policy regarding Taiwan. Reports did not mention discussions regarding North Korea's nuclear program.
- South Korea's Yonhap reported that calls for expanded military cooperation between Beijing and Pyongyang warrant close monitoring. Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun accompanied Jinping during the trip, unlike his 2019 visit, while North Korean media made no mention of military cooperation.
- Analyst Kim Gyubeom from the Institute for National Security Strategy said China pursues a "managerial approach" that neither fully supports nor strongly pressures Pyongyang, prioritizing regional stability while maintaining strategic communication with the North.
140 Articles
140 Articles
Why Kim Ju Ae succession talk misses the point
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea in June 2026 was no mere diplomatic ceremony. Timed to the 65th anniversary of the North Korea-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, the trip revealed both the present and future of relations between the two countries. Yet amid renewed Kim Ju Ae succession speculation, the visit’s real significance is being ignored. The trip carried weight that cannot be brushed aside, …
ONE CYR'S VIEW: China President Xi visits North Korea
President Xi Jinping of China has emphasized traditional alliance relationships through his successful ceremonial visit to North Korea June 8-9. In this case, “traditional” means commitment to communist solidarity. During the long Cold War, communism rightly was regarded as a…
(Washington = Yonhap News) Correspondent Baek Na-ri = Immediately after Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea, the United States emphasizes the position of North Korea's complete denuclearization on bilateral and multilateral diplomatic stages...
On Monday 8 June, Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with his North Korean ally Kim Jong-un as part of a visit to Pyongyang, North Korea. (International).
China's head of state Xi Jinping has paid a two-day visit to North Korea. No matter how the international situation changes, China will stick to the traditional friendship with North Korea, Xi said at a meeting with Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang. Commentators shed light on the relationship between the two countries.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
