On Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 June 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping is making a state visit to North Korea, the first by a Chinese head of state to Pyongyang since 2019. Welcomed with great ceremony by Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol-ju, Xi Jinping declared his intention to take Sino-North Korean relations to “new heights”. The trip, which is also the Chinese leader’s first journey abroad in 2026, is seen as a strong diplomatic signal in a particularly tense geopolitical context.

An exceptional welcoming ceremony in Pyongyang

Upon arriving at Pyongyang International Airport, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan were warmly welcomed by Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol-ju. North Korean children offered bouquets of flowers to the visitors, in a scene carefully staged by the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

On Kim Il Sung Square, a vast welcoming ceremony was organized, with a mounted cavalry escort and carefully choreographed crowds waving Chinese and North Korean flowers and flags. Gigantic portraits of the two leaders dominated the square, underscoring the symbolic importance Pyongyang attached to the visit.

The strategic goals of the visit

This trip by Xi Jinping to North Korea is far from trivial. It comes at a time when ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have grown considerably stronger in recent years, particularly in connection with the conflict in Ukraine. Beijing is therefore seeking to reaffirm its role as the DPRK’s indispensable diplomatic and economic partner, in the face of growing Russian influence.

During their summit, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un announced their intention to open “a new chapter” in bilateral relations. The Chinese president called for deeper strategic cooperation between the two countries, and the two leaders agreed to strengthen their strategic communications and expand exchanges in the political, economic and cultural spheres.

Multiple areas of cooperation

The discussions between the two heads of state covered a wide range of areas of cooperation:

• Trade and economy: strengthening bilateral exchanges and Chinese investment in North Korea
• Agriculture: food aid and transfers of agricultural technology to improve North Korean food security
• Health: health and medical cooperation, particularly in the field of epidemic management
• Construction and infrastructure: development projects on North Korean territory
• Science and technology: knowledge sharing and joint technological development
• Tourism and mobility: intensification of mutual visits by Chinese and North Korean citizens

The resumption of transport links: a strong signal

One of the most notable points of this visit is the confirmation of the resumption of rail links and direct Air China flights between China and North Korea in 2026. These connections, suspended since the Covid-19 pandemic, represent a strong signal of the gradual normalization of relations between the two countries and the partial reopening of North Korea to the outside world.

This reopening, even if limited, represents a significant change for a country that had sealed its borders tightly for several years. It should help revive economic and tourism exchanges, which North Korea needs in order to ease the effects of international sanctions.

The geopolitical context: a delicate balance

Xi Jinping’s visit comes in a particularly complex geopolitical context. In recent weeks, several world leaders, including the American and Russian presidents, had followed one another in Beijing. By choosing Pyongyang as the destination of his first foreign trip in 2026, Xi Jinping is sending a clear message: China intends to remain North Korea’s main patron and protector.

“Xi Jinping wants to take Sino-North Korean relations to new heights” — Euronews, 9 June 2026

This move is all the more strategic because ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have intensified since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. North Korea is suspected of having supplied weapons and ammunition to Russia, strengthening a military alliance that worries Western capitals. By reinforcing its own ties with Kim Jong Un, Beijing is seeking to prevent the DPRK from shifting too exclusively into Russia’s orbit.

The stakes for regional stability

Beyond the bilateral aspects, this visit has important implications for the stability of the entire Asia-Pacific region. International observers are particularly questioning the potential consequences of stronger Sino-North Korean ties for Pyongyang’s nuclear program.

The international community, especially the United States, Japan and South Korea, is closely monitoring the evolution of these relations. Any advanced technological cooperation between Beijing and Pyongyang could potentially accelerate the development of North Korea’s ballistic and nuclear capabilities, which would constitute a direct threat to regional security.

From Washington’s perspective, this visit is seen as an additional challenge in managing tensions with China, in a context where Sino-American relations remain particularly strained over many issues, from semiconductors to Taiwan and trade questions.

Active diplomacy for Xi Jinping

For Xi Jinping, this visit forms part of a broader diplomatic strategy aimed at consolidating China’s alliances in the face of Western pressure. By choosing Pyongyang as the first stop on his foreign travels in 2026, the Chinese president underlines the importance he attaches to partners regarded as strategic allies, even if their relationships are sometimes complicated.

North Korea remains a difficult partner for Beijing: its nuclear program, repeated provocations and isolationist policy regularly create waves in the region. But for China, maintaining influence over Pyongyang is an absolute geostrategic priority, particularly to avoid any collapse of the regime that would cause chaos on China’s doorstep and could potentially allow the deployment of American troops along the Chinese border.

Outlook: toward gradual normalization?

This historic visit could pave the way for a new phase in relations between China and North Korea. Although the announcements remain general for now, the resumption of transport links and commitments to economic cooperation could translate, in the coming months, into concrete projects that will gradually alter the economic and diplomatic landscape of the Korean Peninsula.

For the international community, the key issue will be whether this Sino-North Korean rapprochement will be accompanied by pressure from Beijing on Pyongyang in favor of nuclear de-escalation, or whether, on the contrary, it will allow North Korea to further strengthen its capabilities while circumventing sanctions. The answer to this question will largely determine the evolution of security in Northeast Asia in the coming years.