Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit North Korea on Monday, marking his first trip in seven years. The two-day visit is expected to reassert China's influence over North Korea in exchange for economic and political benefits.
Xi will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, their first summit since September 2022. No specific agenda has been mentioned, but experts predict the meeting will have significant implications for bilateral ties and beyond.
China's sway over North Korea is crucial for Xi's dealings with the US, particularly as he prepares to meet with President Donald Trump again in September.
Xi aims to demonstrate China's leadership role in Northeast Asia and its ability to exert influence over the Korean Peninsula. China has long been North Korea's economic lifeline and main diplomatic backer, but their ties have been strained in recent years.
Xi is expected to offer Kim economic aid packages, joint economic projects, and support for his push for nuclear state recognition. In return, Kim needs Xi's support to counterbalance Russia's influence and secure economic and military assistance.
The visit comes as Kim Jong Un has rebuffed US and South Korean offers for talks and focused on enlarging and modernizing his nuclear arsenal. Experts say Kim would eventually want arms reductions talks with the US to win concessions in return for partially surrendering his nuclear weapons.
