Xi Jinping in North Korea for first visit in 7 years amid Russia-Pyongyang ties
Synopsis
Xi Jinping's first Pyongyang visit in nearly seven years is not a routine bilateral call — it is Beijing's bid to reclaim its primacy over an ally that has been drifting into Moscow's orbit. With North Korea expanding its nuclear arsenal, troops marching in Russian parades, and Kim Yo-Jong declaring nuclear status irreversible, Xi arrives with both reassurance and recalibration on his agenda.
Key Takeaways
Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on 8 June for a two-day state visit — his first to North Korea in nearly seven years .
Talks are expected to cover economic ties , Korean Peninsula security , and Beijing-Pyongyang-Moscow coordination .
The visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the China-North Korea Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance .
Kim Yo-Jong declared North Korea's nuclear status 'absolutely irreversible' just days before Xi's arrival.
North Korean troops marched alongside Russian forces in Moscow's Victory Day parade last month, signalling deepening Pyongyang-Moscow ties.
The trip follows Xi's recent summits with Trump and Putin , positioning Beijing as the central broker on Peninsula diplomacy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday, 8 June for a two-day state visit — his first trip to North Korea in nearly seven years — as Beijing moves to reassert its influence over an ally that has been deepening its partnership with Russia. China's state media confirmed the arrival, noting Xi landed at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Who Accompanied Xi and What Is on the Agenda
Xi was accompanied by his wife, Peng Liyuan, Cai Qi, director of the general office of the Communist Party's central committee, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Talks are widely expected to cover economic ties, Korean Peninsula security, and coordination among Pyongyang, Beijing, and Moscow. Xi was expected to be received by Kim Jong-un in a formal greeting, mirroring the protocol observed during his last visit in 2019.
Across the North Korean capital, portraits of Xi and national flags of both countries lined the streets, according to Chinese media reports. Banners in Korean and Chinese celebrating the two nations' traditional friendship were also prominently displayed.
Why This Visit Carries Strategic Weight
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Pyongyang and Beijing, lending added symbolic weight to the visit. Xi last travelled to Pyongyang on 20–21 June 2019 — his first state visit there since assuming office in late 2012. The two leaders most recently met in September, when Kim travelled to Beijing for China's Victory Day celebrations, standing alongside Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a military parade. Kim has made five trips to Beijing to meet Xi since coming to power following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in December 2011.
North Korea's Nuclear Posture Ahead of the Visit
Pyongyang showed no sign of softening its military stance in the days preceding Xi's arrival. On Sunday, Kim's sister Kim Yo-Jong declared the country's nuclear status absolutely irreversible, calling it a line of no retreat.
Days earlier, Kim Jong-un inspected what Pyongyang described as a newly launched nuclear materials production facility, vowing to exponentially expand the country's arsenal. He also observed a naval destroyer's navigation test, reiterating calls to strengthen North Korea's nuclear deterrent.
Notably, North Korean troops marched alongside Russian forces in Moscow's Victory Day parade last month — the first time Pyongyang's military had done so — underscoring the growing Pyongyang-Moscow axis that Beijing is now navigating.
The Broader Diplomatic Context
The Pyongyang visit follows Xi's separate summits with US President Donald Trump and Putin in Beijing last month, as well as his attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea in October. Analysts suggest Xi arrives in Pyongyang with a sharper read of where the major powers stand on Korean Peninsula affairs, potentially offering an opening to restart stalled multilateral diplomacy among Pyongyang, Washington, and Seoul. For Beijing, reasserting its role as Pyongyang's primary patron — at a moment when North Korea has been gravitating toward Moscow — is itself a key objective of the trip.
Point of View
Not enthusiasm. A Pyongyang that takes Russian weapons contracts and marches in Red Square parades is a Pyongyang that Beijing no longer fully controls. The 65th-anniversary framing is diplomatic packaging; the real agenda is reasserting Chinese primacy before the Pyongyang-Moscow axis hardens into something structurally independent of Beijing's influence. That Xi arrives days after meeting both Trump and Putin makes this visit a triangulation exercise, not a friendship call.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Xi Jinping visiting North Korea in June 2025?
Xi Jinping is in Pyongyang for a two-day state visit to reinforce China's ties with North Korea, which has been growing closer to Russia. The visit also marks the 65th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the two countries, and is Xi's first trip to Pyongyang since June 2019.
When was Xi Jinping's last visit to North Korea?
Xi last visited Pyongyang on 20–21 June 2019, which was itself his first state visit to North Korea since taking office in late 2012. The current visit in June 2025 is his second trip to Pyongyang as China's president.
What is North Korea's nuclear stance ahead of Xi's visit?
Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-Jong, declared North Korea's nuclear status 'absolutely irreversible' on Sunday, calling it a 'line of no retreat.' Kim Jong-un also inspected a newly launched nuclear materials production facility and vowed to exponentially expand the country's arsenal in the days before Xi's arrival.
How does North Korea's closeness with Russia affect Xi's visit?
North Korean troops marched alongside Russian forces in Moscow's Victory Day parade last month — the first time Pyongyang's military had done so publicly — highlighting a deepening Pyongyang-Moscow relationship. Analysts say Beijing wants to reassert its influence over North Korea before that axis becomes structurally independent of Chinese leverage.
What issues are expected to be discussed during Xi and Kim's talks?
Talks are widely expected to cover bilateral economic ties, Korean Peninsula security, and ways to coordinate among Pyongyang, Beijing, and Moscow. The visit also follows Xi's recent summits with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, potentially opening space for resumed multilateral diplomacy on the Peninsula.
