Xi Jinping Set to Meet Kim Jong-un in North Korea, as China Seeks to Revitalize Relationship
The China-North Korea relationship has been strained by a fall in trade during the pandemic and Pyongyang's increasing ties with Russia.
TL;DR
- Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea is his first in nearly seven years, aiming to revitalize ties with Kim Jong-un.
- The relationship has been strained by a freeze in trade during the pandemic and North Korea's closer ties with Russia.
- The trip precedes the 65th anniversary of the China-North Korea friendship and mutual assistance treaty.
- North Korea has increased military cooperation with Russia, including sending soldiers to fight in Ukraine.
- Speculation exists that Xi may pass messages to Kim from Donald Trump regarding denuclearization.
- Both China and North Korea have omitted mentions of denuclearization in official readouts of past meetings.
- North Korea recently unveiled a new nuclear material production factory and called for an 'exponential' expansion of its atomic arsenal.
- Xi's visit prioritizes China's security interests in Northeast Asia, particularly concerns about Japan's increasing militarism.
- Xi's willingness to travel to North Korea reflects the importance of the bilateral relationship and a desire to prevent escalating tensions.
- A key goal for Xi is to prevent North Korea from drifting too far out of the Chinese orbit.