Possible Xi Jinping Visit to North Korea

Recent reports from South Korean media suggest that Chinese leader Xi Jinping may be planning a visit to North Korea soon—his second trip to the nation since he took power in China. Some sources indicate that he could arrive in Pyongyang next week.

However, both the Chinese and North Korean governments have not confirmed these reports. During a press briefing on Thursday, China’s Foreign Ministry declined to specify whether Xi’s visit was imminent. Meanwhile, South Korean officials mentioned their ongoing efforts to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula and improve relations among all parties involved.

If the visit happens, it’s likely a move to reinforce China’s position as North Korea’s main ally and trading partner. China played a significant role in the Korean War on behalf of North Korea, and although the war ended with an armistice in 1953, no formal peace agreement was ever signed, leaving ongoing tensions among North Korea, South Korea, China, and the U.S. Over the years, the Kim dynasty has generally viewed China as a close ally, but recent shifts in priorities—especially after the onset of the pandemic—have led to a distance between Kim Jong-un’s regime and Beijing. There were even rumors of Kim’s health issues, which were later confirmed by his sister. Since then, North Korea seems to have favored strengthening ties with Russia, as illustrated by their increasing military cooperation.

Vladimir Putin just concluded a visit to Beijing, where he and Xi expressed their intent to unite with North Korea. Interestingly, just a week prior, former President Donald Trump had discussions in Beijing that emphasized South Korea’s denuclearization.

The first mention of Xi’s proposed visit came from South Korea’s Yonhap news agency earlier this week. They reported an unnamed South Korean official stating, “We have received information indicating that President Xi Jinping will soon visit North Korea.” Another source indicated that Xi is “likely” visiting between late May and early June.

Another South Korean publication, Korea JoongAng Ilbo, also reported on Thursday that Xi was set to travel to Pyongyang shortly.

There are speculations that Chinese officials may have visited North Korea recently, according to the anonymous source.

The Blue House in Seoul acknowledged on Thursday that they are “monitoring related developments” concerning a potential meeting between Xi and Kim. They expressed hopes for exchanges between North Korea and China that would foster peace and stability in the region, with emphasis on China playing a constructive role.

South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young added that a direct meeting between Xi and Kim could also entail discussions about Kim having another meeting with Trump. During his presidency, Trump was the first U.S. president to set foot in North Korea, meeting Kim multiple times. Recently, Trump claimed he still maintained a friendly relationship with Kim, a sentiment echoed by Kim in a public statement supporting Trump after an assassination attempt during his recent campaign.

On Thursday, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the rumors surrounding Xi’s visit but stopped short of confirming any details.

“China and North Korea are friendly socialist neighbors,” stated spokesperson Guo Jiakun. “Our two countries have a long history of amicable exchanges, which benefits both sides and contributes to regional peace and stability. Unfortunately, we don’t have any specific information to share at this moment.”

Typically, China doesn’t announce or confirm trips by foreign dignitaries, including Xi, until the last minute.

Xi last visited North Korea in 2019. The last time the leaders met was in September 2024, when Kim visited China to attend a major military parade.

Despite North Korea’s historically friendly relations with China, it seems that Russia’s influence has grown more pronounced since the pandemic. Xi’s previous trip to Pyongyang was in 2019, but Putin visited more recently and signed a mutual defense treaty with North Korea, which is thought to play a role in the ongoing deployment of North Korean troops to the conflict in Ukraine. Estimates suggest that North Korea may have sent up to 15,000 troops to Ukraine, with some captured, as shown in videos released by Ukraine. Kim has openly supported Russia, framing the Ukrainian military as “Nazis.”

Putin has even invited North Korean troops to join Russian forces in a traditional World War II parade in Moscow, highlighting a gesture of respect.