Chinese President Xi Jinping makes first visit to North Korea since 2019

On June 8, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang for a state visit to North Korea, marking his first trip to the country since 2019. This visit follows meetings held by Xi in Beijing with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Key discussion topics include denuclearization, relations with the United States, and regional tensions with South Korea. In a piece for the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, Xi characterized the friendship between China and North Korea as invincible. The visit occurs against a backdrop of evolving geopolitics, including the conflict in Ukraine, which has led to closer military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, including reported deployments of North Korean troops to Russia. Additionally, North Korea has recently amended its constitution to remove references to reunification with the South. Analysts view this visit as an attempt by Beijing to reassert its influence over a strategic ally that has increasingly aligned with Russia.