Kim Jong Un pledged deeper ties with China during Xi Jinping’s rare two-day summit in Pyongyang that ended June 9, marking Xi’s first visit to North Korea in seven years and his first overseas trip of 2026.
The North Korean leader called Xi “the greatest state guest,” viewing Xi’s choice of Pyongyang as his first foreign destination of 2026 as “the most encouraging support” to North Korea, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Both leaders agreed to expand cooperation in the areas of politics, economy, and culture at the summit, which opened what they described as a new chapter in bilateral ties.
Xi told his hosts at a luncheon before his departure that the two countries had established a deeper, more comprehensive understanding, with the direction of future development becoming clearer and more defined, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency. The summit came as the two nations marked the 65th anniversary of their friendship treaty, signed in 1961.
The visit represented a significant show of solidarity between China and North Korea. Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan received an elaborate state welcome in Pyongyang, with thousands of residents lining the streets, children carrying balloons, and buildings draped in both nations’ flags. The two leaders jointly planted a fir tree at a political training school, symbolizing what Xinhua described as “ever-renewing friendship.”
Xi’s last state visit to North Korea occurred in June 2019, following a series of historic meetings between Kim and Xi that began in 2018 when the North Korean leader made surprise visits to Beijing. Xi’s 2019 trip came after Kim’s nuclear diplomacy with then-U.S. President Donald Trump had collapsed earlier that year. During that visit, Xi was quoted by Chinese media as saying Beijing was willing to play a constructive role in denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula—a position notably absent from state media accounts of the 2026 summit.
Analysts say the absence of any public mention of North Korea’s nuclear program in the 2026 summit was significant. A key outcome for Kim Jong Un appears to be gaining international acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear-armed state without explicit pressure for disarmament. This contrasts with Xi’s 2019 framing and reflects a shift in Beijing’s approach toward its neighbor.
China has long been North Korea’s economic lifeline and main diplomatic backer. Experts say China avoids fully enforcing United Nations sanctions on North Korea and has sent clandestine aid to help the impoverished nation survive. The two countries also recently restored direct flights and passenger trains that had been suspended since the pandemic, and Xi said both nations should use the reopening of these services as a chance to expand people-to-people exchanges.
The summit underscored China’s effort to reassert influence over North Korea as the country has deepened its ties with Russia. North Korea has supplied troops and weapons to support Russia’s war against Ukraine, receiving economic and military assistance in return. Restoring exclusive influence over North Korea would give Xi leverage in dealings with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed his desire to restart diplomacy with Kim. Xi and Trump met in Beijing last month and are scheduled to meet again in the United States in September.
Sources
- Reuters — Confirmed the summit occurred June 8-9, 2026, with leaders agreeing to expand cooperation in politics, economy, and culture; provided Xi’s quote about deeper understanding and clearer direction for ties.
- AP News — Reported Kim’s statement calling Xi “the greatest state guest” and confirmed this was Xi’s first overseas trip of 2026; provided details on the elaborate welcome ceremony.
- Al Jazeera — Confirmed the summit and that both leaders agreed to strive for closer strategic communication through high-level official visits.
- Brookings Institution — Analyzed the significance of Xi choosing North Korea as his first overseas destination of 2026.
- Open Magazine — Confirmed the summit marked the 65th anniversary of the China-North Korea friendship treaty.
- NPR — Reported the visit was Xi’s first to North Korea since 2019.
- The New York Times — Provided context on North Korea’s growing ties with Russia and strategic implications of the summit.
