Kim Jong-un meets Xi in Pyongyang as North Korea pivots away from China

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reduced his country's reliance on China and deepened cooperation with Russia, receiving oil, food and modern weapons worth billions of kronor. The shift follows a 2024 defence pact with Moscow and the deployment of up to 15,000 North Korean troops to the Russian war effort.

In early June, Chinese President Xi Jinping traveled to Pyongyang to reaffirm China’s role as North Korea’s main patron and to maintain influence over its neighbour. The meeting, scheduled for 8–9 June, is seen as a test of how far Kim can assert independence while still courting Chinese economic and diplomatic support. Analysts note that while Kim seeks broader trade and tourism links with China, Beijing aims to keep the regime within its sphere.

The evolving relationship has implications for regional security, especially as the United States watches for any changes in North Korea’s nuclear programme and its alignment with Moscow.