Xi Jinping's North Korea visit signals shift away from denuclearization

Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first foreign trip of 2026 to North Korea, meeting Kim Jong-un and senior officials in Pyongyang. During the state visit he pledged “unwavering support” to the DPRK and omitted any reference to denuclearisation, a marked change from Beijing’s previous public stance.

The talks covered expanded economic assistance, the reopening of border crossings, and the possibility of increased military and technological cooperation. China, which accounts for about 90% of North Korea’s trade, framed the visit as a way to stabilise the region and counterbalance the influence of the United States and Russia. No concrete agreements were announced, but the language suggested a tacit acceptance of Pyongyang’s nuclear programme and a focus on strengthening China’s strategic role in the Korean Peninsula.