Beijing _ Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to North Korea next week, marking his first trip to the country in nearly seven years.
Chinese and North Korean state media announced on Friday that Xi will visit Pyongyang from June 8 to 9 at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. His last visit to North Korea took place in June 2019.
The visit comes as both countries seek to strengthen their longstanding relationship amid shifting regional dynamics. China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner and a key source of economic support, while Pyongyang has expanded military and political cooperation with Russia in recent years.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the visit aims to deepen bilateral ties and promote peace and stability in the region. She described China-North Korea relations as a traditional friendship that has continued to develop steadily and bring benefits to both nations.
The announcement comes shortly after Xi hosted leaders from the United States and Russia in Beijing, underscoring China’s active role in regional and global diplomacy.
Xi’s trip also follows North Korea’s unveiling of a new facility believed to be used for uranium enrichment, a key component in the production of nuclear weapons. During a visit to the site, Kim pledged to expand the country’s nuclear capabilities at what he described as an “exponential rate.”
Analysts say the timing of the facility’s disclosure ahead of Xi’s visit may be intended to reinforce North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed state while seeking greater international recognition and leverage in future negotiations.
Observers will be closely watching whether China raises the issue of North Korea’s nuclear program during the visit. Beijing has traditionally supported dialogue and stability on the Korean Peninsula while opposing actions that could increase tensions in the region.
China and Russia, both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, have previously opposed efforts to impose additional sanctions on North Korea over its missile and nuclear weapons programs.
The visit is relatively rare for Xi, whose overseas travel has remained limited in recent years. It will be his first foreign trip of 2026 and is expected to highlight the strategic importance of relations between Beijing and Pyongyang at a time of growing geopolitical competition in Northeast Asia.
