Xi and Kim Vow Deeper Ties as China Seeks to Reassert Influence in North Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation during Xi’s first visit to Pyongyang in seven years, underscoring Beijing’s efforts to reinforce its influence over its longtime ally amid shifting regional dynamics.

The summit highlighted commitments to expand cooperation in trade, agriculture, technology, construction and strategic coordination, while notably avoiding any public discussion of North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme. The omission suggested a carefully calibrated outcome that allowed Beijing to showcase its relevance in Pyongyang while giving Kim economic and political backing without pressure on denuclearisation.

Xi received a lavish state welcome upon arriving in Pyongyang, where he and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were greeted by Kim and his wife, Ri Sol Ju. Thousands gathered in the capital’s main square for a ceremony featuring military honours, national flags and large portraits of the two leaders. Kim later hosted a state banquet for the Chinese delegation.

During talks, Xi said China was prepared to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors and strengthen strategic coordination to protect the two countries’ sovereignty and security interests. Kim described relations with China as North Korea’s “most important” strategic priority and praised Xi’s visit as a significant show of support.

Kim also reiterated Pyongyang’s backing for Beijing’s “One China” policy regarding Taiwan. Both leaders agreed to enhance coordination on regional and international issues and safeguard their shared interests.

The visit comes as China seeks to regain influence in North Korea after Pyongyang deepened ties with Russia through military and economic cooperation linked to the war in Ukraine. Analysts say stronger leverage over North Korea could also bolster Xi’s position in dealings with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly signalled interest in reviving diplomacy with Kim.

A notable aspect of the summit was the absence of any public reference to denuclearisation. Unlike Xi’s 2019 visit, when Beijing spoke of supporting efforts to denuclearise the Korean Peninsula, Chinese and North Korean accounts of the latest talks made no mention of the issue. The silence aligns with North Korea’s increasingly firm stance that its nuclear programme is non-negotiable.

Experts say Kim is seeking greater acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear-armed state while also pursuing Chinese economic support. Potential areas of assistance could include food and fertiliser shipments, tourism and expanded trade links. Bilateral trade has already recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and direct flights and passenger train services between the two countries have resumed this year.

The visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the China-North Korea mutual defence treaty, highlighting the enduring strategic importance of one of Asia’s most closely watched alliances.