China's President Xi Jinping to Visit North Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to Pyongyang next week for a two‑day official visit, the first trip to North Korea since 2019. State media confirmed that Xi will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, aiming to strengthen ties that have become increasingly important for both sides. The visit follows a series of high‑profile diplomatic engagements in the region, including recent meetings between Xi, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Chinese Foreign Ministry officials said any contact between China and North Korea “serves the interests of both parties and contributes to peace and stability in the region.” Xi’s trip is also his first foreign journey this year, after attending the APEC summit in South Korea, where he met Trump. North Korea relies heavily on China for trade, making the meeting a significant opportunity for Beijing to reaffirm its role as Pyongyang’s main economic partner while also expressing caution over Pyongyang’s nuclear program.