Xi calls China–North Korea ties "unbreakable," but Pyongyang's Russia pivot is testing Beijing's leverage.
Key takeaways
- The Chinese leader's first trip to North Korea in 7 years comes as Pyongyang has moved closer to Russia.
- Since the North Korean dictatorship emerged out of the ashes of the Korean War, China has been Pyongyang's primary geopolitical and financial benefactor.
- Kim and Xi last met in September 2025 at a military parade in Beijing.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The Chinese leader's first trip to North Korea in 7 years comes as Pyongyang has moved closer to Russia. Kim Jong Un is likely to seek more access to China's economic power, analysts say.
https://p.dw.com/p/5F128The geopolitical landscape has shifted since Chinese President Xi Jinping last visited North Korea Image: Xie Huanchi/Xinhua/picture alliance Advertisement Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday for his first visit to North Korea since 2019, at a time when an emboldened Kim Jong Un has expanded his regime's trade and military relationship with Russia.
In a letter published in North Korea's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper ahead of his visit, Xi wrote, "no matter how times change or how the international situation evolves, the traditional friendship between China and North Korea remains unbreakable, enduring, and constantly radiates vitality."