Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea on Monday in a rare diplomatic visit, declaring an “invincible friendship” with Pyongyang as Beijing and Pyongyang reaffirmed close ties amid shifting global alliances.
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The visit marks Xi’s first trip abroad this year and his first visit to North Korea since 2019. His arrival was marked by a formal welcome ceremony, with military officers lining a red carpet and banners at the airport celebrating the “unbreakable friendship” between China and North Korea.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, arrived in Pyongyang on Monday for a state visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. pic.twitter.com/yM5GF5HCfT
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) June 8, 2026
China remains North Korea’s most important trading partner and a key source of diplomatic and economic support, particularly as Pyongyang continues to face international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme.
Xi’s trip comes shortly after he hosted separate summits with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. While Washington has reiterated calls for the denuclearisation of North Korea, Pyongyang has firmly maintained that its nuclear programme is “irreversible.”
In an article published in North Korean state media, Xi emphasised the long-standing relationship between the two countries, stating that their traditional friendship would remain strong “no matter how the international situation evolves.”
Analysts say China’s approach toward North Korea has shifted toward prioritising regional stability and maintaining a strategic buffer state rather than pushing for rapid denuclearisation. Experts also suggest Beijing is seeking to counterbalance Russia’s growing influence in Pyongyang following closer military cooperation between North Korea and Moscow.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has strengthened ties with Russia in recent years, particularly after sending troops to support Moscow in the Ukraine conflict, while maintaining firm resistance to international pressure on its nuclear programme.
Read More: Xi to visit North Korea as China seeks closer ties
The visit is also seen as part of broader regional dynamics involving the United States, South Korea and Japan, as major powers continue to compete for influence in Northeast Asia. Observers expect discussions in Pyongyang to focus on political coordination, economic cooperation and regional security issues.