Xi Jinping’s Upcoming Visit to North Korea

BEIJING — Chinese leader Xi Jinping is set to visit North Korea next week, marking his first trip there in nearly seven years. This visit aims to bolster China’s relationship with its nuclear-armed neighbor, North Korea. Recently, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reached out to Russia, sending troops and weapons to support its conflict in Ukraine. However, Kim has also sought to strengthen ties with China, North Korea’s largest trading partner and aid provider.

William Yang, an analyst from the International Crisis Group, noted that China’s intention with Xi’s visit is to reassert its influence over North Korea while safeguarding strategic interests in Northeast Asia. Xi will conduct a two-day state visit, from Monday to Tuesday, according to reports from Chinese and North Korean state media. Xi’s last visit was in June 2019. This trip comes shortly after Xi hosted U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.

The United States has opposed North Korea’s nuclear weapons program over the years. Economic sanctions by the U.N. have been imposed against North Korea due to its nuclear and missile programs. The announcement of Xi’s visit follows North Korea’s recent revelation of a new facility designed for producing nuclear bomb materials. During a visit to this plant, Kim Jong Un announced plans to expand the country’s nuclear capabilities, aiming for exponential growth.

Experts believe Kim is eager to establish North Korea as a recognized nuclear state before Xi’s visit. They speculate that Kim may seek international recognition to push for the removal of sanctions and potentially engage in arms reduction talks with the U.S. in exchange for concessions on North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. Since his diplomatic talks with Trump fell apart in 2019, Kim has focused on building the nuclear arsenal.

Despite Trump’s desire to rekindle diplomacy with Kim, the North Korean leader insists that the U.S. remove its denuclearization demand to resume talks. Observers are keen to see if Xi and China will comment on North Korea’s denuclearization during the visit.

Last month, Xi and Kim met in Beijing, pledging mutual support and enhanced cooperation. This meeting involved Kim attending a Chinese military parade alongside other foreign leaders, including Putin. Both Russia and China, as permanent U.N. Security Council members, have often blocked U.S. and allied efforts to strengthen sanctions against North Korea.

During their last meeting, Putin and Xi criticized foreign policy isolation, economic sanctions, and military pressure, which they view as threatening North Korea’s security. Embracing ideas of a multipolar world and a ‘new Cold War,’ Kim has sought to deepen foreign relations with nations in conflict with Washington.

This visit signifies one of Xi’s rare trips abroad since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. His last international visit was to South Korea during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where he met Trump.