Xi visits North Korea to counter Russia's growing influence

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday for a two-day state visit to North Korea, his first trip to the isolated nation in nearly seven years, in an effort to strengthen Beijing's influence over its neighbor as Pyongyang deepens military and economic ties with Russia. Xi was received at the airport by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, with a ceremony featuring children presenting flowers, in what both governments described as a moment of renewed "blood-forged" friendship. The visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the China-North Korea mutual defense treaty, which remains Beijing's only formal defense commitment with another country. The timing of Xi's visit reflects growing Chinese concern about North Korea's shifting allegiances, as Pyongyang has increasingly aligned itself with Moscow since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. North Korea has dispatched troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine while continuing to expand its nuclear program, and a new road bridge connecting the two countries across the Tumen River is expected to be completed within weeks. Analysts say the partnership has given Kim Jong Un new leverage against Beijing, prompting Xi to seek reaffirmation of Chinese influence over its neighbor. In an article published in North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper before his arrival, Xi wrote that both nations must "oppose hegemonic and authoritarian plans" and called for deepening cooperation across military, political, and economic spheres. China has effectively accepted North Korea as a nuclear power, with no joint reference to denuclearization in recent talks between Xi and Kim, a marked departure from previous diplomatic efforts that included summits between Kim and former U.S. President Donald Trump. North Korea's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, declared last week that her country's nuclear status is "irreversible," while South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Pyongyang produces enough enriched nuclear fuel for ten to twenty warheads annually. South Korea's foreign ministry said it hopes Xi's visit will "play a constructive role in addressing issues related to the Korean Peninsula," with some analysts suggesting Xi may be carrying a message from Trump about resuming direct negotiations with Kim, though Pyongyang has insisted Washington must abandon its denuclearization demands first.