Xi and North Korea’s Kim to Hold Talks in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are set to meet for talks in Beijing, Chinese authorities announced on Thursday, as Kim undertakes a rare foreign visit.

Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin were seen flanking Xi at a massive military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, where underwater drones, large-scale missiles, and laser weaponry were displayed to visiting leaders.

China has long been North Korea’s principal ally, a bond forged during the Korean War of the 1950s, providing diplomatic, economic, and political support to the isolated state, which remains under stringent international sanctions.

Details of Kim’s Visit

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun confirmed that Xi and Kim will hold talks and exchange views in depth on China–DPRK relations and matters of common interest. He added: “China is willing to work with the DPRK to strengthen strategic communication and deepen the exchange of experience in governance.”

Kim previously engaged in high-profile diplomacy from around 2018, meeting US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on multiple occasions. However, following the collapse of the Hanoi summit with Trump in 2019, Kim largely withdrew from the international stage.

Beijing continues to play a crucial role in supporting North Korea, maintaining ties that span economic, political, and military domains, despite the country’s ongoing isolation due to sanctions.