Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit North Korea next week for talks with leader Kim Jong Un, marking his first trip to the country in nearly seven years.
According to state media reports from both countries, the visit is scheduled for 8–9 June and comes at the invitation of Kim Jong Un. Xi’s last official visit to Pyongyang took place in 2019.
The diplomatic trip comes shortly after Xi hosted meetings in Beijing with world leaders including Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, underscoring shifting global power dynamics involving North Korea.
China remains North Korea’s most important economic and political partner, providing critical trade support despite sweeping international sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons programme and alleged human rights abuses.
Both countries share a long border and are bound by a mutual defence agreement, making China a key strategic ally for North Korea. This year also marks the 65th anniversary of that treaty.
Analysts say the visit will carry strong symbolic value for North Korea, strengthening its international standing while reinforcing its ties with Beijing and Moscow amid growing geopolitical realignments.
Kim Jong Un is expected to use the opportunity to seek expanded economic cooperation, including increased trade across the land border and a potential boost in Chinese tourism to newly developed resort areas in North Korea.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high, as Pyongyang continues to expand its nuclear programme and strengthen military capabilities while cutting off communication with South Korea.
South Korean officials have expressed hope that China may use the visit to encourage renewed dialogue between North Korea, the United States, and South Korea.
However, North Korea has continued to reject calls for denuclearisation, insisting on advancing its weapons programme, which it claims has significantly expanded in recent years.
The upcoming meeting is widely seen as a key moment in regional diplomacy, with implications for security and stability across East Asia.
