BEIJING June 6, 2026 – Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a two-day state visit to North Korea on June 8-9 at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to announcements from both countries’ state media on Friday. This marks Xi’s first visit to Pyongyang since 2019 and his first overseas trip of 2026.
The visit comes as Beijing seeks to strengthen bilateral ties with its longstanding ally and reassert influence on the Korean Peninsula amid North Korea’s deepening military cooperation with Russia.
Xinhua News Agency and North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed the trip in brief dispatches. The two leaders are expected to discuss enhancing cooperation, regional security issues, and bilateral relations.
The announcement follows Xi’s recent high-profile hosting of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing. It also occurs shortly after North Korea revealed a new uranium enrichment facility, highlighting Pyongyang’s ongoing nuclear program.
Analysts view the trip as China’s effort to counterbalance North Korea’s growing ties with Russia — including reported troop deployments to support Moscow in Ukraine — and to maintain leverage in Northeast Asia. China and North Korea are bound by a mutual defense treaty, though relations have at times been strained.
Xi last visited North Korea in June 2019, a trip marked by elaborate ceremonies and mass games performances. Since then, high-level exchanges have continued, including Kim Jong Un’s visits to China.
The visit is likely to draw international attention, particularly regarding potential Chinese mediation efforts between North Korea and the United States on denuclearization and security matters. South Korean officials have previously expressed hopes that Beijing could play a constructive role.
As Xi’s overseas travel has become less frequent in recent years, this trip underscores the priority Beijing places on its “lips-and-teeth” relationship with Pyongyang.
Further details on the agenda, outcomes, or any joint statements are expected closer to or during the visit.
Life News Agency will continue monitoring developments.
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