Xi Jinping Plans State Visit to North Korea

Beijing — Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea next week, marking his first trip there in nearly seven years. This visit reflects China’s strategy to strengthen its relationship with North Korea, its nuclear-armed neighbor. In recent years, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reached out to Russia, including by sending troops and weapons to support Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. Simultaneously, Kim has been working to deepen ties with China, North Korea’s largest trading partner and main aid provider.

William Yang, an analyst for 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 will occur from Monday to Tuesday, as reported by Chinese and North Korean state media. His previous visit to North Korea was in June 2019. The announcement follows Xi’s recent meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.

The nuclear weapons program of North Korea has been a pressing concern for the United States. The U.N. has enforced economic sanctions on North Korea because of its nuclear and missile ambitions.

The trip’s announcement coincides with North Korea’s unveiling of a new facility believed to be a uranium enrichment plant, intended for producing nuclear bomb material. Kim Jong Un revealed plans to amplify the country’s nuclear forces “at an exponential rate.” Experts conclude that Kim aims to solidify his nation’s position as a nuclear power before Xi’s visit, seeking international recognition and possibly pushing for arms reduction talks with the U.S., offering partial nuclear capability reduction in exchange for sanctions relief.

Kim has concentrated on enlarging his nuclear arsenal following the collapse of diplomatic efforts with Trump in 2019. Trump has expressed interest in renewing diplomacy with Kim, yet the North Korean leader demands the removal of the U.S.’s denuclearization precondition for talks.

Analysts are keen to see China’s stance on North Korea’s denuclearization during Xi’s visit. In September, Xi and Kim met in Beijing, affirming mutual support and cooperation. Kim attended a military parade alongside Xi, Putin, and other foreign leaders.

Russia and China, possessing veto powers in the U.N. Security Council, have often hindered U.S. efforts to intensify sanctions on North Korea despite its prohibited weapons tests. During their meeting in Beijing, Putin and Xi criticized methods like foreign policy isolation and economic sanctions against North Korea, according to a Kremlin statement.

Kim is promoting a more assertive foreign policy, strengthening ties with nations engaged in disputes with the United States, and embracing the concepts of a “new Cold War” and a multipolar world.

This trip is unusual for Xi, who significantly reduced international travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic. His last international visit was to South Korea last fall for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where he met Trump.