Xi Jinping Promises Kim Jong Un New Level of Alliance while Ignoring Nuclear Issue
Political
Geopolitical rivalry in East Asia is entering a new phase as Chinese President Xi Jinping conducted a highly rare visit to Pyongyang, his first in seven years. Against the backdrop of North Korea drawing ever closer to Moscow and cementing its military alliance with Vladimir Putin, Beijing is moving decisively to re-establish its exclusive influence over its neighbor. The lavish red-carpet reception and the Chinese leader’s conspicuous silence regarding North Korea's nuclear weapon program constituted an apparent success for both sides. This summit not only yielded political dividends for Kim Jong Un but also significantly bolstered Xi Jinping’s standing ahead of his crucial autumn talks with US President Donald Trump.
On Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the DPRK for an official visit. He was met at Pyongyang International Airport by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. A grand welcoming ceremony featuring thousands of citizens took place in the capital's main square, which was adorned with giant portraits of both leaders. In the evening, Kim hosted a banquet in honor of the Chinese delegation. Kim Jong Un referred to Xi as an "outstanding state guest" and emphasized that choosing the DPRK as the first destination for Xi's foreign travels this year represented the "most encouraging support" for Pyongyang.
Official readouts from Beijing and Pyongyang underscored a mutual desire to elevate their traditional alliance to a "new level". Xi Jinping expressed China's readiness to expand strategic interaction and develop cooperation across a wide array of sectors, including trade, agriculture, construction, and technology. Kim Jong Un, for his part, reaffirmed that the friendship between North Korea and China would be maintained as a "strategic matter of paramount importance".
Notably, both sides completely omitted any public mention of the DPRK’s nuclear program during the summit. This stands in stark contrast to Xi's visit in 2019, when Chinese media quoted him voicing Beijing's commitment to playing a constructive role in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The current silence plays directly into the hands of Kim, who seeks international recognition of North Korea as a nuclear state to demand the lifting of UN sanctions. Shortly before the visit, Kim's powerful sister stated that the DPRK's nuclear program is a "line that cannot be crossed". Meanwhile, Xi's trip comes just weeks after his talks with Donald Trump, during which the US and Chinese leaders had reaffirmed a shared goal of achieving the denuclearization of North Korea. Strengthening its grip on Pyongyang will enhance Beijing's leverage ahead of the next Xi-Trump meeting scheduled to take place in the US this September.
Official readouts from Beijing and Pyongyang underscored a mutual desire to elevate their traditional alliance to a "new level". Xi Jinping expressed China's readiness to expand strategic interaction and develop cooperation across a wide array of sectors, including trade, agriculture, construction, and technology. Kim Jong Un, for his part, reaffirmed that the friendship between North Korea and China would be maintained as a "strategic matter of paramount importance".
Notably, both sides completely omitted any public mention of the DPRK’s nuclear program during the summit. This stands in stark contrast to Xi's visit in 2019, when Chinese media quoted him voicing Beijing's commitment to playing a constructive role in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The current silence plays directly into the hands of Kim, who seeks international recognition of North Korea as a nuclear state to demand the lifting of UN sanctions. Shortly before the visit, Kim's powerful sister stated that the DPRK's nuclear program is a "line that cannot be crossed". Meanwhile, Xi's trip comes just weeks after his talks with Donald Trump, during which the US and Chinese leaders had reaffirmed a shared goal of achieving the denuclearization of North Korea. Strengthening its grip on Pyongyang will enhance Beijing's leverage ahead of the next Xi-Trump meeting scheduled to take place in the US this September.
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