Chinese President Xi Jinping received a lavish welcome upon his arrival in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, today for two-days an official visit.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un welcomed Xi upon his arrival at Pyongyang International Airport. The two leaders shook hands and exchanged greetings.
Xi later arrived at Pyongyang’s main square, where a military honor guard and thousands of people, including children carrying balloons, took part in a large-scale welcome ceremony. Buildings surrounding the plaza were decorated with the flags of both countries, along with portraits of Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping, and banners celebrating friendship and unity between the two nations.
The scale of reception underscores the importance North Korea places on Xi’s visit.
The visit expected to focus on economic and political issues, is likely to further strengthen China–North Korea relations. Analysts say it may also contribute to a broader recalibration of influence in Asia, particularly in relation to the US’ role in the region.
North Korea continues to rely heavily on China for trade and economic support, while also seeking to strengthen ties with key regional powers as it navigates ongoing tensions over its nuclear program and relations with the West.
During a two-day trip, his first visit to North Korea in seven years, Xi is expected to hold a summit with Kim.
The two leaders met last September in Beijing along with Russian president Vladimir Putin and other foreign leaders present to attend the military parade. Xi has praised relations between China and North Korea, saying they stand at a “new historical starting point” and that the pair are “shouldering new missions of the times”, according to a state media report. According to a report by AP, the two leaders expected to discuss on bilateral ramifications and their separate confrontation with US, which imposed sanction on North Korea. North Korea, which is standoff with US ally South Korea and face the brunt of US sanction, considered ties with China as relief from these pressure.
Xi visited North Korea after hosting US president Donald Trump weeks before. Xi is expected to meet Trump againon a planned U.S. visit in September.
China, North Korea, US
China has emphasized the importance of peace on the Korean Peninsula but did not directly press North Korea on its nuclear program, according to an AP report. Following last month’s summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House said both leaders reaffirmed their shared goal of North Korea’s denuclearization. However, China described the talks more broadly, saying only that they discussed the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korean officials, including Kim Yo Jong, rejected the U.S. interpretation of the summit, calling it “false information.” Meanwhile, North Korea has continued expanding its nuclear program. Kim Jong Un recently unveiled a new facility for nuclear material production and pledged to strengthen the country’s nuclear forces. He also inspected naval developments, including trials of a new destroyer, and called for faster progress toward a nuclear-armed navy. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said North Korea is producing enough material for 10–20 nuclear bombs annually and is close to advancing its intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities.
Kim Yo Jong also dismissed U.S. calls for denuclearization asunrealistic, while Kim Jong Un has continued to reject renewed diplomaticoffers, focusing instead on expanding and modernizing the country’s nuclear arsenal.
