Xi Jinping visits North Korea for the first time in seven years.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea on June 8-9 and hold talks with the country's leader, Kim Jong Un. This was reported by BBC, citing official media outlets of both countries in a report.

 

It is reported that this visit will be Xi Jinping's first trip to North Korea since 2019. It is being carried out at the invitation of Kim Jong Un.

 

The visit takes place against the backdrop of Beijing's high-level engagements with the United States and Russia. Several weeks ago, Xi Jinping received US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.

 

China is considered one of North Korea's most important economic and political partners. For Pyongyang, which remains under international sanctions due to its nuclear program and human rights allegations, Beijing continues to be a key economic pillar.

 

Cooperation between the two countries is reinforced by a mutual defense treaty signed in 1961. This year marks the 65th anniversary of this agreement.

 

According to observers, issues of expanding trade and economic ties may be discussed during the visit. In particular, North Korea has expressed interest in increasing the volume of overland trade with China and attracting more Chinese tourists to new resorts in the country.

 

Security issues on the Korean Peninsula are also expected to be one of the important topics in the talks. South Korean officials have expressed hope that Beijing may encourage Pyongyang to resume dialogue with Seoul and Washington.

 

In the opinion of South Korea's Unification Minister Chang Dong-yeon, the issue of restarting US-North Korea negotiations may also be considered during the meeting between Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un.

 

Additionally, there is a possibility of exchanging views on North Korea's nuclear program. Although China has supported the idea of making the Korean Peninsula a nuclear-free zone, Beijing has demonstrated a more cautious position in its statements on this issue in recent years.

 

Pyongyang, meanwhile, has stated its intention to continue its policy of developing nuclear capabilities. According to North Korean state media, Kim Jong Un recently announced that the country's production capacity for weapons-grade nuclear materials has more than doubled over the past five years.