Pyongyang: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea on Monday for a two-day state visit, marking his first trip to Pyongyang in nearly seven years. This visit aims to strengthen ties with North Korea, which has recently been deepening its relationship with Russia.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Xi landed in Pyongyang at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and was accompanied by his wife, Peng Liyuan, along with senior Chinese officials. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired footage showing Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, welcoming Xi and Peng at the airport. North Korean children presented bouquets to the Chinese president and his wife upon their arrival. The terminal building was adorned with large national flags of North Korea and China, and a red carpet was laid out to welcome Xi.
Xi attended a welcome ceremony at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, as reported by China's Xinhua News Agency. Subsequent talks are anticipated to cover economic relations and Korean Peninsula issues, as well as coordination strategies among Pyongyang, Beijing, and Moscow. In preparation for the visit, Pyongyang displayed portraits of Xi and flags of both nations, with banners celebrating the two countries' traditional friendship.
Xi's last visit to Pyongyang was in June 2019. More recently, the two leaders met in September during Kim's visit to Beijing for China's Victory Day celebrations, where they stood alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin at a military parade. Xi's visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance between North Korea and China, providing an opportunity to reaffirm their alliance.
The visit also comes amid North Korea's growing ties with Moscow, highlighted by North Korean troops participating in Russia's Victory Day parade last month. Despite the diplomatic engagements, North Korea has maintained its military stance. Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-Jong, recently declared the country's nuclear status irreversible, and Kim inspected a new nuclear materials production facility last week, emphasizing the expansion of North Korea's arsenal.
For China, Xi's visit serves to reaffirm its influence over the Korean Peninsula, following recent summits with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Putin. This visit may present an opportunity to restart stalled diplomatic efforts among Pyongyang, Washington, and Seoul, as Xi arrives with a clearer understanding of the major powers' positions on Korean Peninsula affairs.