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In brief

  • Xi Jinping landed in North Korea on 8 June 2026 for a meeting with Kim Jong Un, a visit described as rare.

  • Seoul believes Xi may try to position China as a mediator between North Korea and the United States.

  • Western diplomatic sources say Beijing is increasingly concerned about the growing partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow.

  • The visit comes one week after Xi met Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

  • Kim cannot afford to alienate China, his biggest aid source, especially if Russia's need for North Korean support diminishes after the war in Ukraine.

Pyongyang
Pyongyang · North Korea

The visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea on 8 June 2026 for a meeting with leader Kim Jong Un. The visit is a rare one, and comes just one week after Xi met Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Strategic calculations

Seoul believes Xi may attempt to position China as a mediator between North Korea and the United States. However, Western diplomatic sources told the BBC that Beijing has other motives, having become increasingly concerned about the growing partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow.

“China has become increasingly concerned about the growing partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow.”

Western diplomatic sources

After his meeting with Putin, Xi may want to ensure he keeps Kim in check, especially as Beijing increases its presence on the global stage.

Kim's pragmatic choice

For Kim, China remains the pragmatic choice. The North Korean leader cannot afford to alienate his biggest source of aid. If the war in Ukraine ends, Russia's need for North Korean support could diminish, leaving Kim at risk of relying on a weakening partner.

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Sources and context

  • BBCon 8 Jun at 04:15China's Xi Jinping lands in North Korea to meet Kim Jong Un in rare visit - follow live
Xi Jinping
President of China, visiting North Korea for a rare meeting with Kim Jong Un.
Kim Jong Un
Leader of North Korea, hosting Xi Jinping for a summit in Pyongyang.
Vladimir Putin
President of Russia, met Xi Jinping one week before the North Korea visit.

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Published on 8 Jun at 04:29.

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Text generated by AI from the reports of the publishers listed and checked automatically, with no human editor. How Pollar is made

In this text

  1. 1The visitThe visit
  2. 2Strategic calculationsStrategic calculations
  3. 3Kim's pragmatic choiceKim's pragmatic choice

Based on reports by

BBC

List of sources

Diplomacy · Pyongyang

Xi Jinping arrives in North Korea for rare summit with Kim Jong Un amid shifting Pyongyang-Moscow ties

Chinese leader Xi Jinping landed in North Korea on Monday for a rare meeting with Kim Jong Un, a trip Western diplomats say is driven by Beijing's concerns over Pyongyang's deepening partnership with Moscow.

AI text based on reports by BBC. Published on 8 Jun at 04:29.

Pyongyang
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