As Xi Jinping visits Pyongyang, he encounters an empowered North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. This shift comes after North Korea’s strengthened ties with Russia, reducing its reliance on China.
Xi, China’s leader, met with Kim, North Korea’s leader, in Beijing back in September. Analysts suggest China aims to reestablish its influence over North Korea, which has recently leaned toward Russia. When Xi last visited North Korea, Kim was under pressure from sanctions and stalled nuclear discussions with the United States.
Nearly seven years later, Xi meets a leader empowered by a Russian alliance, helping North Korea’s economy out of seclusion. The two-day summit aims to present a united front against Western nations. Yet, China’s goal is to reaffirm its influence over North Korea, a neighbor increasingly inclined toward Russia.
Kim, desiring more equitable treatment from China, may use his ties with Russia to leverage economic advantages from Beijing. Successfully balancing relationships with these powerful neighbors might embolden Kim to further his nuclear ambitions. This escalation could destabilize a region where U.S. allies already express concerns over China’s growing military presence and the capability of the United States to uphold defense commitments while engaged in conflict with Iran.
Key Points of the Meeting
Xi intends to emphasize unity but also needs to engage Kim. He will likely use his meeting to stress North Korea’s dependence on China, demonstrating that Beijing remains pivotal in global dynamics.
This message aligns with Xi’s efforts to position China as an equivalent superpower to the United States. China seeks to portray itself as a stabilizing influence globally, contrasting with what it perceives as the disorder sown by the United States, whether through military engagements or economic policies like imposing tariffs. Xi’s recent summits with figures such as President Trump and President Vladimir Putin reinforce this narrative.
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