Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea on Monday for his first visit to the country in seven years, receiving a ceremonial welcome from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to CNN.
State media footage showed Kim and First Lady Ri Sol Ju greeting Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at Pyongyang airport before a large-scale reception at Kim Il Sung Square. The report said the two-day visit comes at a time of shifting global alliances and growing geopolitical tensions.
According to CNN, the trip highlights Beijing’s effort to reaffirm its influence over North Korea, despite Pyongyang’s increasingly close military and political ties with Russia. Xi described China-North Korea relations as enduring and resilient in a message published ahead of the visit.
The summit also follows recent displays of North Korea’s missile and nuclear ambitions. The report noted that Kim recently inspected missile production facilities and called for a rapid expansion of the country’s nuclear capabilities.
Xi’s visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the China-North Korea friendship treaty and underscores Beijing’s desire to remain Pyongyang’s primary economic and diplomatic partner.
The report said discussions could also carry broader implications for regional security, including U.S., South Korean and Russian interests in Northeast Asia.
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— The Straits Times (@straits_times) June 8, 2026
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