Xi Jinping Plans Visit to North Korea for Strengthening Ties

Next week, Chinese leader Xi Jinping will visit North Korea, marking his first trip there in almost seven years, as announced by both nations on Friday. This visit is part of China’s efforts to reinforce its strong relationship with North Korea, which possesses nuclear capabilities. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has endeavored to enhance ties with China, the North’s largest trading partner and aid provider, despite reaching out to Russia over the past years.

William Yang, an analyst for the International Crisis Group, noted that Xi’s visit aims to reassert China’s influence over Pyongyang and protect its strategic interests in Northeast Asia. Xi will be in North Korea for a state visit from Monday to Tuesday, according to Chinese and North Korean state media. His previous visit occurred in June 2019. The trip is intended to advance relations and bolster regional peace and stability, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated on Friday.

The traditional friendly and cooperative relations between China and the DPRK have continued to develop in a sound and stable manner, bringing tangible benefits to both countries and their peoples,” commented spokeswoman Mao Ning, using the abbreviation for North Korea’s official name.

This visit follows shortly after Xi hosted U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. The U.S. remains particularly concerned with North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, which the United Nations has sanctioned due to its prohibited nuclear and missile activities. The trip announcement coincided with North Korea revealing a new facility speculated to produce materials for nuclear bombs, possibly a uranium enrichment plant.

Kim Jong Un has indicated plans to significantly augment North Korea’s nuclear forces. Experts suggest that disclosing this plant signifies Kim’s intent to solidify North Korea’s standing as a nuclear state ahead of Xi’s visit. They believe Kim seeks international acknowledgment as a nuclear power, aiming for the removal of sanctions and potentially engaging in arms reduction negotiations with the U.S.

Since the breakdown of diplomacy with Trump in 2019, Kim has focused on growing his nuclear arsenal. Trump has often mentioned his eagerness to revive diplomacy with Kim. However, Kim insists that the U.S. must first abandon its denuclearization requirement as a condition for talks. Observers are keen to see if Xi’s visit will include any comments on the call for North Korea’s denuclearization.

The leaders met in Beijing last September, where they pledged mutual support and closer cooperation. During this visit, Kim also attended a Chinese military parade with other foreign dignitaries, including Putin. Russia and China, both permanent U.N. Security Council members, have hindered past attempts by the U.S. and others to intensify sanctions on North Korea due to its banned weapons tests.

In their recent Beijing meeting, Putin and Xi criticized attempts to isolate North Korea through foreign policy strategies, economic sanctions, military pressure, etc., as per the Kremlin’s statement. Adopting a more aggressive foreign policy approach, Kim has been expanding ties with nations in conflict with the U.S., promoting ideas reminiscent of a “new Cold War” and supporting a multipolar global order.

International travel has been rare for Xi since the COVID-19 pandemic. His last overseas engagement was in South Korea the previous fall for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where he met Trump.