Xi Jinping to Visit North Korea, Strengthening Ties Amid Denuclearisation and Russian Ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea on Monday and Tuesday in a show of the two countries’ strong ties. At the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Xi will pay a state visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from June 8 to 9, state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday morning, citing the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. The trip will be Xi’s second to North Korea. The Chinese president visited in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic shut border crossings between the countries for years. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the two leaders would exchange views on bilateral ties and issues of “mutual interest”. “This year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the China-North Korea Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. The two sides will take this visit as an opportunity to promote bilateral relations to keep pace with the times and achieve greater development,” Mao said. Beijing and Pyongyang are cautiously rebuilding ties after years of relative isolation due to the pandemic, North Korea’s dissatisfaction with China’s support for denuclearisation and Beijing’s reservations over Pyongyang’s growing military cooperation with Moscow.