China's Xi Jinping Makes Rare Visit to North Korea, Pledges Unwavering Support for Kim Jong Un

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited North Korea on June 8, 2026, his first trip to the country in seven years, pledging unwavering support for Kim Jong Un's leadership. The visit comes as North Korea's nuclear arsenal grew to about 60 warheads from 50 a year ago, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute on June 7, 2026. Air China resumed Beijing-Pyongyang flights in March 2026 as border crossings reopened after COVID-19 restrictions.

Xi Jinping Pyongyang visit

• ▪Xi Jinping's June 2026 North Korea visit was Xi Jinping's first international trip in 2026
• ▪Xi Jinping was accompanied on the June 2026 North Korea state visit by wife Peng Liyuan, de facto chief of staff Cai Qi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Defence Minister Dong Jun, and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao
• ▪A 21-gun salute was fired at Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square during Xi Jinping's June 2026 visit
• ▪Kim Jong Un and wife Ri Sol Ju provided a red-carpet welcome for Xi Jinping alongside a guard of honour
• ▪Xi Jinping visited North Korea on June 8, 2026, marking Xi Jinping's first visit to North Korea in seven years

China-North Korea strategic partnership

• ▪Xi Jinping told Kim Jong Un that China's firm support for Kim Jong Un's leadership of the DPRK socialist cause will not change
• ▪Xi Jinping hosted Kim Jong Un and other leaders at a massive military parade in Beijing in 2025, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin
• ▪Xi Jinping stated that China-North Korea ties were at a new historical starting point
• ▪Xi Jinping told Kim Jong Un on June 8, 2026 that China will not swerve from its commitment to safeguarding common interests with North Korea or waver in its support for Kim Jong Un
• ▪Xi Jinping told Kim Jong Un that China and North Korea should strengthen strategic ties and firmly protect their sovereignty, security, and development interests

Geopolitical alignment against US

• ▪Craig Singleton stated that China, North Korea, Russia and Iran share an interest in blunting U.S. power and straining U.S. alliances
• ▪Xi Jinping called on Kim Jong Un to oppose hegemony, authoritarianism and all attempts and conspiracies to revive militarism that endanger regional security and stability

Bilateral exchanges resumption

• ▪Xi Jinping urged stronger exchanges between China and North Korea in areas from diplomacy, law enforcement and the military to agriculture, trade, technology and construction
• ▪Xi Jinping told Kim Jong Un that China and North Korea should capitalise on restored links as an opportunity to expand people-to-people exchanges
• ▪Air China resumed flights between Beijing and Pyongyang in March 2026
• ▪North Korea has resumed crossings at the Chinese border and stepped up exchanges frozen during the COVID-19 pandemic

Economic cooperation expansion

• ▪Xi Jinping pledged to work with North Korea to promote fair and orderly multilateralism and inclusive economic globalisation

North Korea nuclear capabilities

• ▪The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute stated on June 7, 2026 that North Korea probably has a nuclear arsenal of about 60 warheads, up from 50 a year ago
• ▪The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates North Korea is stepping up output of fissile material beyond a level now sufficient for at least 30 more warheads
• ▪North Korea unveiled plans for a 10,000-ton naval destroyer on the eve of Xi Jinping's June 2026 arrival