Xi Jinping visits Pyongyang for first North Korea summit in seven years, pledging expanded cooperation with Kim Jong Un

Xi Jinping touched down in Pyongyang to a ceremonial welcome — mounted cavalry, choreographed crowds waving flowers and flags, and giant portraits of the two leaders installed over Kim Il Sung Square. Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju greeted Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at the airport, with children presenting bouquets. The two leaders later held talks and attended a banquet at the Mokran House state venue, according to China's state broadcaster CCTV.

In remarks reported by Chinese state media Xinhua, Xi said the two countries should inject "powerful momentum" into their relationship, strengthen "strategic coordination and cooperation," and "firmly defend their respective sovereignty, security, and development interests." He told Kim that "no matter how the international situation changes, the firm position of the Chinese Party and government highly valuing the traditional friendship between China and North Korea will not change." Kim, for his part, described Xi's visit as proof of how "unbreakable" the bilateral relationship is and called consolidating the friendship an "unchanging strategic choice" for North Korea.

The summit follows a period of strained ties. Covid-era border closures disrupted exchange between the two countries, and North Korea subsequently deepened its relationship with Russia — deploying thousands of soldiers to support Moscow's war in Ukraine and, in return, receiving military and economic assistance. China and North Korea's two-way trade recovered to pre-pandemic levels last year, and direct flights and passenger train services resumed earlier in 2026. Analysts cited in the AP and NPR coverage said North Korea cannot rely on Russia alone and must maintain alignment with China, its principal economic lifeline and diplomatic backer.