Xi Reaffirms China-North Korea Partnership Amid Pyongyang’s Growing Russia Ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on June 8 for a two-day state visit, his first trip to North Korea since 2019 and his first overseas visit of 2026, reaffirming Beijing’s position as Pyongyang’s principal strategic partner amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in Northeast Asia.

As China has been expanding its ties with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, the country’s seventh meeting with the nation’s leader occurs with both countries also pursuing their traditional relationship with China and political and military cooperation with Russia.

In that context, Beijing has been working to deepen ties with Pyongyang, as the regional security landscape changes. Chinese state media outlet Xinhua quoted Xi as saying China was willing to bring “powerful momentum” to bilateral ties by enhancing cooperation in trade, agriculture, construction, science and technology and healthcare.

The leaders also attended and participated in the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between China and North Korea.

Kim Calls China Relationship Top Strategic Priority

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim described maintaining North Korea’s friendship with China as the country’s “most important top-priority strategic work.” He also referred to Xi as “the greatest state guest” and said Xi’s decision to make North Korea the destination of his first foreign visit of the year demonstrated strong support for Pyongyang.

During a state banquet at Mokran House, Xi said the two countries had agreed to elevate bilateral relations to “a higher level,” describing China as “a good neighbor, good friend and good comrade,” according to Xinhua.

Kim also reaffirmed North Korea’s support for Beijing’s one-China principle, reiterating China’s position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of its territory.

China Seeks to Maintain Influence as Russia-North Korea Ties Deepen

The summit was held amid continued cooperation between North Korea and Russia, which signed a 2024 mutual defense pact called the “New Type of Major Country Relations.

The summit came as both nations continue to forge closer ties after signing a 2024 mutual defense pact known as the “New Type of Major Country Relations” with each other.

Western governments have been worried about growing military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, particularly North Korea’s deployment of troops and supply of munitions to aid Russia in its war in Ukraine.

Analysts say Beijing has increased diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang as Russia’s influence in North Korea has grown.

Benjamin Young, an assistant professor of intelligence studies at Fayetteville State University, said Xi’s visit appeared intended to reinforce China’s role as North Korea’s primary economic partner.

“The North Koreans need to remember who their main trading partner is,” Young said, adding that North Korea’s military-industrial sector has become more closely integrated with Russia than with China.

Denuclearization Absent From Public Messaging

Xi did not speak about denuclearization in the visit, a fact that is striking after the White House has reported that China and the United States reaffirmed their shared desire to denuclearize North Korea during their meeting with the U.S. President, Donald Trump, in Beijing in mid-May.

While Chinese officials maintain denuclearization of North Korea is still part of their policy, analysts believe Beijing has been increasingly emphasizing other issues openly at the expense of North Korea’s nuclear issue, as Pyongyang has repeatedly rejected any possibility of talks on the dismantling of its nuclear weapons program.

One day before Xi’s visit, KCNA reported Kim had visited a big arms plant and discussed plans to ramp up the manufacture of ballistic and cruise missiles. Kim also visited a plant that makes weapons-grade nuclear material, the state news agency said, during which Kim urged North Korea’s nuclear armaments to “build at an exponential rate.”

Regional Security Dynamics Continue to Shift

The summit underscored North Korea’s growing diplomatic flexibility as it balances stronger relations with both China and Russia.

Seong-hyon Lee, an associate at Harvard University’s Asia Center, said the relationship among China, Russia and North Korea is driven more by shared strategic interests than by a formal alliance.

“This does not require a formal alliance,” Lee said. “This just requires loose alignment.”

Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Defense Minister Dong Jun and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao were among the top officials from Beijing’s delegation, underscoring Beijing’s push for stronger ties with Pyongyang in the diplomatic, security and economic spheres.

The visit highlighted China’s attempt to maintain its historic control of North Korea, amid the country’s efforts to adjust to a region where Pyongyang is engaging more closely with Moscow.