(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) "Süddeutsche Zeitung" published a commentary titled "Eine Machtdemonstration" (Eine Machtdemonstration) on Monday to analyze the geopolitical background of Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea. "Kim Jong-un is a dictator who relies on China's charity and has been despised internationally. Why does Xi Jinping make a public appearance with him?" the article explained: "This is a show of power, to be seen from different sides. It is to show Putin that the value of his alliance with Kim Jong-un depends entirely on the extent to which Xi Jinping allows his "little brother" in North Korea to act as he wishes. And Kim Jong-un, who met Kim Jong-un three times during his first term, A Trump who has achieved nothing will be seen as a foreign policymaker with no achievements. At the same time, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan also have good reasons to worry: not only is a violent dictator wielding a nuclear warhead threatening them on their doorstep, but he also has the backing of China. Xi Jinping does not need to express all this in words. The images alone speak for themselves. Moreover, these images show democratically elected heads of state in other parts of the world - leaders who regard promoting unity, protecting minority groups, human rights and freedom of speech as their mission - the reality that they are losing ground: facing the likes of Putin, Trump, Netanyahu, Erdogan, and even Kim Jong-un, you have no chance of prevailing based on morality alone. Against the backdrop of a bleak global situation, Xi Jinping has used a new series of images to show the image of a leader who maintains dialogue with all parties and leads the country to great strength with calmness and tact. In contrast, Trump has caused the United States to slip from a global power to a regional power due to his lack of rules. These images show the world that Xi Jinping is the most powerful person in the world today. "The bargaining chip in Kim Jong-un's hands. "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" published an analysis article "Why did Xi Jinping go to North Korea?". The author believes that Kim Jong-un has reduced his dependence on China in the past few years by moving closer to Russia, especially by sending troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine. "Last September, Xi Jinping appeared with Putin and Kim Jong Un at a military parade in Beijing and held a bilateral meeting with Kim Jong Un. It marked an apparent rapprochement between Beijing and Pyongyang after years of so-called frost in relations. During that time, North Korea closed itself off during the COVID-19 pandemic while relations with Russia grew closer. Moscow and Pyongyang formed a military alliance in 2024. Last month, North Korean soldiers participated in a military parade alongside Russian troops in Moscow for the first time. Experts believe that although Beijing is somewhat uncomfortable with this cooperation, it does not threaten its core interests. China strives to avoid giving the impression of a 'Beijing-Moscow-Pyongyang' tripartite axis, but the three countries' stance against the West is the same. Will North Korea welcome Chinese tourists again? It is said that China's economic and trade relations with North Korea have also returned to pre-epidemic levels. Despite this, North Korea has reduced its dependence on China by strengthening relations with Russia. As the alliance with Putin deepens, Kim Jong-un has a bargaining chip against China. There are reports that North Korea not only obtains energy supplies from Russia, but also obtains modern military technology; this situation is bound to dissatisfy China, because China is seeking peace and stability in the northeastern border area.” The author believes that Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea is sending a signal to Washington, especially Moscow: China’s influence on the Pyongyang regime goes far beyond its status as the “largest trading partner.” "According to South Korea's Chosun Ilbo, citing diplomatic sources in Beijing, China is trying to exert influence to prevent North Korea, which has increasingly close ties with Russia, from taking unexpected actions. Of course, Beijing will not forget that when US President Trump met with Kim Jong Un during his first term, he did not involve North Korea's neighbors."
