As Xi Jinping Heads To North Korea After Seven Years, What Does China Hope To Gain?
As Xi Jinping Heads To North Korea After Seven Years, What Does China Hope To Gain? Published By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 11:56 IST
As Xi Jinping Heads To North Korea After Seven Years, What Does China Hope To Gain? Published By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 11:56 IST Xi's upcoming visit to North Korea is being widely viewed as an attempt to reinforce its close ties with Kim Jong Un, who has reached out to Russia in recent years. Rapid Read Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. (Reuters/File Image) Chinese President Xi Jinping is making a high-profile visit to North Korea on June 8 (Monday), his first in seven years, underscoring the deepening partnership between the two countries amid tensions with the West, particularly the United States. Xi’s upcoming visit to North Korea is being widely viewed as an attempt to reinforce its close ties with Kim Jong Un, who has reached out to Russia in recent years by sending troops and conventional weapons to support its war against Ukraine. The Chinese President last visited North Korea in June 2019. He is expected to use the two-day summit to project a united front against the West and court Kim Jong Un amid geopolitical uncertainty led by US President Donald Trump’s nuclear policies. What Does China Hope To Gain? Over the recent years, North Korea has increasingly turned to Russia for support linked to its controversial nuclear programme and access to food, oil and military hardware.
This has allowed Pyongyang to reduce its dependence on China and allowed Kim Jong Un to press Beijing for more economic concessions. North Korea’s nuclear programme has fuelled concerns of regional instability due to Kim’s aggressive rhetoric against the US and neighbouring South Korea. If North Korea is able to successfully balance between China and Russia, Kim would feel less constrained about advancing its nuclear programme. In this context, Xi is likely to use his rare access to Kim to remind him that North Korea is still dependent on China and that Beijing cannot be sidelined, according to The New York Times. Xi’s message would align with efforts to project China as a superpower equal to the United States, whose credibility is in question due to the Iran war. North Korea’s reliance on Russia has created concern in China, which wants to maintain its influence over North Korea to rein in its volatile behaviour and ensure stability on its borders. China officially opposes a nuclear North Korean state, saying it will drive other countries to seek their own nuclear arsenals. However, its stance has evolved to seeking better ties with Pyongyang and a view that a nuclear-armed North Korea would provide leverage against the US and South Korea. The Role Of The United States The summit comes as Kim Jong Un’s fortunes changed after Trump walked away from nuclear talks in 2019 and the US reinforced sanctions on Pyongyang.
The Russia-Ukraine war prompted Moscow to strengthen ties with North Korea by providing it with oil, food and weapons technology in exchange for weapons and troops. After assuming power last year, Trump has repeatedly signalled his desire for another summit with Kim. It is possible that Trump asked Xi to deliver a message to the North Korean leader. However, Kim has made it clear that he will reject any dialogue with the US that includes deliberations on his nuclear programme. Russia and China have aligned with the US for years on rolling back North Korea’s nuclear programme, supporting UN resolutions on sweeping sanctions on Pyongyang. However, Russia has now signed a defence pact and offered its military technical assistance, which has dampened US efforts. What Does North Korea Want From China? In March, China resumed train and flight services between Beijing and Pyongyang as part of efforts to strengthen ties with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. At the same time, North Korea has been investing in seafront resorts and mountain hot springs to attract Chinese tourists, signalling its desire to deepen economic engagement with Beijing. North Korea is estimated to possess 50 nuclear-armed warheads, but it still seeks advanced technology to build intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of delivering those weapons. Analysts say China may consider it impossible to force North Korea to give up its nuclear programme without damaging ties.
Xi and Kim met in Beijing in September and pledged mutual support and enhanced cooperation. Kim was in the Chinese capital to attend a Chinese military parade alongside other foreign leaders including Putin. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int... Read More Location: Beijing, China First Published: June 05, 2026, 11:56 IST News world As Xi Jinping Heads To North Korea After Seven Years, What Does China Hope To Gain? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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