Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting North Korea from June 8 to 9, marking his first trip to the country in seven years. Ahead of the visit, Xi published a signed article in the Workers’ Party of Korea newspaper Rodong Sinmun, titled “Carry Forward the Past and Forge Ahead Together to Write a New Chapter in China–DPRK Traditional Friendship.” He stressed that the traditional friendship between China and North Korea is long-lasting and resilient, saying bilateral relations remain “unbreakable” regardless of changes in the international situation.
Xi said the visit was made at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and that he looked forward to in-depth discussions on the future development of bilateral ties. He noted that he has met Kim six times in recent years, with both sides maintaining close strategic communication and jointly shaping the direction of China–DPRK relations.
He also outlined future priorities, including strengthening strategic communication, enhancing exchanges, expanding practical cooperation, and deepening multilateral coordination. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the China–DPRK Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, with both sides expected to increase exchanges across party, government, and military levels and implement existing agreements.
China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner and a key source of economic support, playing an important role in maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula. However, while Beijing continues to advocate for denuclearisation, Pyongyang has persisted with its nuclear weapons programme, leaving clear differences between the two sides.
Analysts say the visit comes amid growing North Korea–Russia ties and shifting geopolitical dynamics in Northeast Asia, and is seen as part of Beijing’s efforts to stabilise and reinforce its strategic coordination with Pyongyang.
Commentary:
Xi’s visit is formally presented as a continuation of traditional friendship, but it also reflects changing regional geopolitics. China–North Korea relations today are no longer based only on historical ties, but also on security and strategic interests. North Korea remains a key buffer state for China, but its deepening cooperation with Russia after the Ukraine war presents new challenges for Beijing. While China seeks to maintain influence and stability on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea is increasingly balancing between China and Russia, making the future of the relationship more complex and uncertain.