Beijing (TDI): Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit North Korea next week, according to Chinese state media, marking his first trip to Pyongyang in seven years and his first foreign visit of 2026.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi will travel to North Korea from June 8 to 9 at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The visit comes amid a series of high-level diplomatic engagements involving China, as Beijing continues to position itself as an active global mediator.
North Korea remains heavily reliant on China for political and economic support, despite being under strict international sanctions. Analysts estimate that China accounts for the vast majority of North Korea’s trade and export revenues.
The upcoming visit follows a period in which North Korea has strengthened ties with Russia, particularly since the start of the Ukraine war, receiving reported assistance in the form of energy, food, and military cooperation in exchange for support to Moscow.
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Experts say Xi’s trip signals Beijing’s effort to reinforce its influence over Pyongyang and prevent North Korea from becoming too closely aligned with Russia. It also reflects China’s broader strategy of maintaining regional stability while managing concerns over North Korea’s rapidly advancing nuclear program.
Xi last met Kim in Beijing in September during commemorations marking the anniversary of World War II’s end in Asia. Prior to that, Xi’s 2019 visit to North Korea was the first by a Chinese leader since 2005.
Chinese officials have recently called for closer coordination with North Korea on regional and international issues, while also emphasizing the need to manage security risks related to Pyongyang’s nuclear activities.
North Korea, meanwhile, has continued to expand its nuclear capabilities and has rejected recent reconciliation efforts from South Korea, which it describes as hostile.
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Analysts say China’s renewed diplomatic engagement is also aimed at presenting Beijing as a stable global power capable of balancing influence between the United States, Russia, and regional partners. However, expectations that Xi’s visit could lead to broader breakthroughs, such as facilitating US–North Korea dialogue, remain low.
