China's President Xi Jinping Schedules State Visit to North Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to make a two‑day state visit to Pyongyang on June 8‑9, 2026, after an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong un. It will be Xi's first trip to the isolated regime since 2019 and the first foreign trip of his 2026 itinerary. The visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the China‑North Korea Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance Treaty and follows recent high‑level meetings Xi held with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.

Beijing, North Korea's largest trading partner, recorded $2.79 billion in bilateral trade last year, the highest since the pandemic, and has resumed passenger‑train services and direct Air China flights. Chinese officials say the trip aims to deepen ties, promote development and contribute to regional peace and stability, while also seeking a political solution to the nuclear issue that both sides regard as non‑negotiable. The timing comes amid a strengthened North Korea‑Russia strategic partnership and ongoing international calls for denuclearisation.