Xi Jinping Arrives in Pyongyang for Rare State Visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang at noon local time on Monday for a two-day state visit to North Korea, his first in seven years, in a diplomatic engagement that underscores Beijing’s determination to reassert its influence over its socialist ally amid a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.
Xi was greeted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un upon arrival, according to Xinhua News Agency. The Chinese leader is accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, Politburo Standing Committee member Cai Qi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Vice Premier He Lifeng. The visit, at Kim’s invitation, marks Xi’s first overseas trip of 2026 and comes just weeks after he hosted U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.
A Signed Article Sets the Tone
Ahead of his arrival, Xi published a signed article titled “Carrying Forward the Past, Forging Ahead Together: Writing a New Chapter in China-DPRK Traditional Friendship” in North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Monday. In the article, Xi emphasized the enduring nature of bilateral ties, writing that “no matter how the times change or how the international situation evolves, the China-DPRK traditional friendship remains unbreakable, enduring, and ever vibrant,” as reported by Xinhua.
Xi described the shared socialist ideal as the “distinctive底色” (foundation) of China-North Korea relations, noting that both the Chinese Communist Party and the Workers’ Party of Korea are Marxist ruling parties and “fellow travelers on the socialist path.” He also highlighted that 2026 marks the 65th anniversary of the Sino-North Korean Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, signed in 1961.
A Strategic Recalibration
The visit occurs against a backdrop of significant geopolitical realignment. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea has deepened its ties with Moscow, selling over 1 million artillery shells and reportedly deploying soldiers to fight in Ukraine. In June 2024, Russia and North Korea signed a mutual defense treaty, raising concerns in Beijing about being marginalized as Pyongyang’s primary strategic partner.
According to AP News, experts view Xi’s visit as an effort to reassert China’s unique influence over North Korea in return for the economic and political benefits Beijing provides. Patricia M. Kim of the Brookings Institution, cited in BBC analysis, noted that “since Russia and North Korea began deepening their relationship in 2024, Beijing has been有意 strengthening its ties with Pyongyang. China does not want Moscow to replace itself as North Korea’s primary strategic partner.”
Lee Sung-hyun of the Harvard University Asia Center offered a more nuanced assessment: “In many ways, North Korea is the biggest beneficiary of this evolving strategic triangle. Both Moscow and Beijing have strong incentives to keep Pyongyang on their side. The reality is that Beijing will find that it hasn’t lost Pyongyang; it has just lost its monopoly.”
A Diplomatic Trifecta
Xi’s trip to Pyongyang completes a remarkable diplomatic trifecta. In May alone, Xi hosted Trump in Beijing for a two-day summit (May 14-15) and Putin for a separate visit (May 20), positioning China as a central arbiter in great-power politics. Making North Korea his first overseas destination of the year sends a clear signal about the priority Beijing places on the relationship.
The visit also follows a series of steps toward normalizing cross-border exchanges. In March 2026, the Beijing-Pyongyang passenger train service resumed after a six-year suspension, and Air China resumed direct flights to Pyongyang on March 30. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Pyongyang in April, the first such visit since 2019.
North Korea’s Strengthened Hand
Kim Jong Un enters this summit from a position of relative strength. North Korea has declared itself a nuclear weapons state and amended its constitution accordingly. Its deepening ties with Russia have reduced its sole reliance on China, giving Pyongyang greater diplomatic leverage. China, for its part, has notably softened its language on denuclearization, with official statements omitting the term after the May 2026 Xi-Trump summit.
Choi Eun-ju of the Sejong Institute observed that “the relationship is strategically necessary but not without friction,” reflecting the complex dynamics at play.
What to Watch For
The Xi-Kim summit is expected to cover bilateral relations, regional security, and economic cooperation. Key questions include whether any specific agreements will emerge, how the visit will affect Russia-North Korea relations, and whether China will publicly shift its position on North Korea’s nuclear status. The visit also reinforces South Korea’s strategic concerns about being marginalized in regional diplomacy, while Japan views the strengthening China-Russia-North Korea axis with alarm.
As Xi and Kim sit down for talks, the broader implications extend far beyond the Korean Peninsula. The evolving strategic triangle between China, Russia, and North Korea is reshaping the balance of power in Northeast Asia, and Xi’s presence in Pyongyang signals that Beijing has no intention of ceding ground.