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Xi Jinping arrives in Pyongyang amid strained ties
Chinese leader Xi Jinping began a two-day visit to North Korea on Monday, aiming to reassert Beijing's influence over its unpredictable neighbor as Pyongyang deepens military cooperation with Russia.
Strategic interests drive Beijing's outreach
China views North Korea as a critical but volatile partner-one it cannot control yet cannot afford to lose. While the two nations describe their relationship as "forged in blood," referring to their alliance during the Korean War, recent years have seen growing mistrust.
Xi's visit is less about reviving historical ties and more about securing leverage, analysts say. Seoul suspects Beijing may position itself as a mediator between Pyongyang and Washington, though China's motives remain unclear.
Russia's growing role unsettles Beijing
Western diplomats tell The Meta Times that China is increasingly concerned about North Korea's deepening partnership with Moscow. Following a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, Xi may seek to counterbalance Russia's influence over Kim Jong Un.
The warming ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have alarmed Beijing. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, North Korea expanded military cooperation with Putin, culminating in a 2024 mutual defense pact. A BBC investigation found that approximately 2,300 North Korean soldiers have died fighting for Russia in Ukraine, while Pyongyang is accused of supplying ammunition in exchange for oil and aid.
"China wants to ensure its interests vis-à-vis North Korea are protected at a time of rapid convergence between Moscow and Pyongyang,"
Ankit Panda, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Cooling relations and calculated diplomacy
The strain between Beijing and Pyongyang was evident in late 2024, when the two nations barely acknowledged the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. China's ambassador skipped North Korea's founding celebrations, and senior-level exchanges remained minimal-contrasting sharply with Pyongyang's growing closeness to Moscow.
Beijing responded by attempting to reset the relationship. Last year, Xi invited Kim to a military parade in Beijing, seating him prominently alongside Putin. Their first formal summit in six years saw Xi praise the two as "good neighbors, good friends, and good comrades bound by a shared destiny," while conspicuously omitting any mention of North Korea's nuclear program.
Balancing act: China's mixed motives
Analysts describe China's stance as one of "mixed feelings." On one hand, North Korea's alliance with Russia distracts the U.S. and complicates its global strategy-a benefit to Beijing. On the other, deepening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow could provoke a stronger trilateral response from the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, which China seeks to avoid.
"If China takes a strong stance against Pyongyang's nuclear program, it would only push North Korea further into Russia's arms," said Victor Cha of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Yet Beijing has avoided direct confrontation, even vetoing a 2022 U.S.-led UN resolution to impose new sanctions over North Korea's missile tests.
Economic leverage and pragmatic alliances
China remains North Korea's largest economic lifeline. Last year, Chinese exports to Pyongyang surged to $2.3 billion, the highest level in six years. Passenger train services between Beijing and Pyongyang resumed earlier this year after a six-year hiatus, signaling Beijing's effort to pull Kim back into its orbit.
For Kim, the choice is pragmatic. If the war in Ukraine ends, Russia's need for North Korean support may wane. Unlike Putin, Xi has maintained global engagement, making China the more reliable partner.
A troubled history and uncertain future
The relationship between Beijing and Pyongyang has been fraught since Kim Jong Un took power. Unlike his father, Kim Jong Il, who relied on China's backing, the younger Kim prioritized accelerating North Korea's nuclear program. In his first six years, he oversaw 90 ballistic missile tests and four nuclear detonations-more than his predecessors combined.
Beijing's displeasure was evident in 2014 when Xi visited South Korea before meeting Kim, a move widely seen as a snub. North Korea retaliated by calling China a "turncoat and enemy." Relations only began to thaw in 2018 as sanctions tightened, prompting Kim's first foreign trip-to Beijing.
Today, North Korea serves as both a buffer and a burden for China. It keeps U.S. forces at a distance but destabilizes the region with weapons tests. Kim, meanwhile, seeks Chinese protection without Chinese control. Neither side fully trusts the other, but for now, mutual need keeps them engaged.
