China's President Xi Begins State Visit to North Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on June 8, 2026, marking his first trip to North Korea in seven years. The two‑day state visit included a ceremonial welcome at the airport, a reception on Kim Il‑sung Square and meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol‑ju.

Xi, in a pre‑visit article for the North Korean party newspaper Rodong Sinmun, spoke of “new development opportunities” for the neighboring states and pledged to uphold the “unbreakable friendship” between China and North Korea. The two sides discussed bilateral relations, trade, and cooperation, with China stressing its role as North Korea’s main political and economic partner.

Peking also used the visit to signal its desire to keep North Korea economically dependent on China and to counter Russia’s growing influence in the region. Xi affirmed continued support for North Korea “regardless of how the international situation changes.” The North Korean leadership reiterated its refusal to abandon its nuclear arsenal, rejecting recent diplomatic overtures on denuclearisation.