Chinese leader Xi Jinping plans to visit North Korea next week. Both nations confirmed this on Friday. This visit will be Xi’s first in nearly seven years. This trip is part of China’s effort to strengthen its ties with its nuclear-armed neighbor.
In recent years, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has engaged with Russia. He has even provided troops and conventional weapons for Russia’s efforts in Ukraine. However, over the past year, Kim has sought to enhance relations with China too. China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner and source of aid.
William Yang, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, stated, As North Korea builds closer ties with Russia, China seeks to use Xi’s trip to reassert its influence over Pyongyang and safeguard its strategic interests in northeast Asia.
Xi’s state visit is scheduled from Monday to Tuesday. The last time he visited was in June 2019. This upcoming trip follows Xi’s meetings in Beijing with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The nuclear weapons program of North Korea has long concerned the United States. The U.S. opposes this program, leading to U.N. economic sanctions against North Korea. The visit announcement came a day after North Korea revealed a new facility producing materials for nuclear weapons. It is said to be a uranium enrichment plant, though North Korea has not confirmed this.
During his visit to the plant, Kim Jong Un laid out plans to significantly expand the country’s nuclear forces. Experts suggest this move indicates Kim’s desire for international recognition as a nuclear power. This recognition could allow him to negotiate for sanctions relief. Analysts believe Kim may eventually push for arms reduction talks with the U.S., offering partial nuclear disarmament for concessions.
Kim has prioritized nuclear arsenal expansion since his diplomacy with Trump fell apart in 2019. Trump has shown interest in reviving talks with Kim, but Kim insists the U.S. must first drop denuclearization demands.
Observers are keen to see China’s stance on North Korea’s nuclear ambitions during Xi’s visit. Xi and Kim last met in Beijing in September to affirm their mutual support and collaboration. Kim attended a Chinese military parade with foreign leaders, including Putin.
Russia and China, both permanent U.N. Security Council members with veto power, have previously blocked attempts to increase international sanctions on North Korea. This is despite continued weapons tests from the regime. A Kremlin statement from last month’s meeting indicated Putin and Xi’s opposition to foreign policy isolation, economic sanctions, and military pressure on North Korea.
Kim’s foreign policy has grown assertive, as he seeks to strengthen ties with nations at odds with the United States. For Xi, this trip is unusual given his limited international travel since the Covid-19 pandemic. His last trip was to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where he met with Trump.
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