Xi Jinping to Visit North Korea for First Time Since 2019 Amid Shifting Regional Alliances

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit North Korea next week in his first trip to the isolated nation since 2019, a move widely seen as an effort to strengthen Beijing’s influence over its longtime ally amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the region. The two-day state visit, scheduled for June 8–9, comes at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and marks Xi’s first overseas trip of 2026.

Chinese and North Korean officials said the visit will focus on deepening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation on regional security and economic issues. Analysts say the trip reflects Beijing’s desire to maintain a strong foothold in Pyongyang as North Korea increasingly strengthens its military and diplomatic partnership with Russia, particularly following its support for Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine.

The announcement comes just days after North Korea unveiled a new uranium enrichment facility and reiterated plans to expand its nuclear arsenal. Observers believe Kim may seek greater political backing from China as he pushes for international recognition of North Korea as a nuclear-armed state and seeks relief from longstanding sanctions.

Xi and Kim have met several times in recent years, including in Beijing in 2025, but Xi has not visited Pyongyang since his landmark state trip in June 2019. The upcoming visit is expected to underscore the strategic importance of China-North Korea relations at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and growing competition among major powers in East Asia.

Diplomatic observers will closely watch whether the talks produce any new agreements on economic cooperation, regional stability, or North Korea’s nuclear programme, as Beijing seeks to balance its influence over Pyongyang while maintaining its broader strategic interests in the region.