▲ Chinese President Xi Jinping
As Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans to visit North Korea for the first time in seven years, major foreign media outlets reported the news in unison, focusing on the significance of the upcoming visit.
Foreign media analyzed that President Xi will likely focus on keeping Russia—which has grown closer to North Korea since the war in Ukraine—in check, and reaffirming China's influence over Pyongyang.
The New York Times (NYT) pointed out in an article on June 4 (local time) titled "Why Xi Jinping Is Visiting North Korea to Woo Kim Jong-un" that this visit is a move to improve relations with North Korea, which has recently leaned toward Russia, and to strengthen its influence over Pyongyang.
John Delury, a senior fellow at the Asia Society, told the NYT, "China is clearly concerned about the increasingly close relationship between North Korea and Russia," adding, "This visit will help put some of those concerns to rest."
William Yang, senior analyst for Northeast Asia at the International Crisis Group (ICG), a think tank, also told the Associated Press (AP), "Through this visit, China seeks to reaffirm its influence over Pyongyang and protect its strategic interests in Northeast Asia."
Previously, North Korea received Russian oil, food, and weapons following its troop deployment to the Russia-Ukraine war, and even signed a mutual defense treaty with Russia in 2024, significantly reducing its decades-long dependence on China.
On the other hand, China's exchanges with North Korea have dwindled since the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to assessments that their relationship had become relatively estranged.
For this reason, analysts suggest that President Xi needs to rebuild relations with North Korea through this visit and re-establish China's footing in Northeast Asia.
Bloomberg News assessed, "President Xi will likely use his visit to North Korea to reinforce the perception that China is one of the few major powers capable of engaging with all nations."
The fact that President Xi, who rarely travels abroad, chose North Korea as his first overseas destination of the year is also drawing attention.
In particular, Reuters noted that President Xi decided to visit North Korea just about eight months after his visit to South Korea in October last year.
Experts analyzed that President Xi is attempting to strike a diplomatic balance by alternating his visits between South and North Korea.
Meanwhile, ahead of President Xi's visit, North Korea unveiled a new nuclear material production facility, reiterating its commitment to strengthening its nuclear capabilities.
It also appears unlikely that the issue of North Korea's denuclearization will be on the agenda at the upcoming China-North Korea summit.
Although President Xi stated during last month's U.S.-China summit that he would work toward achieving the goal of North Korea's denuclearization, the likelihood of the denuclearization issue actually being discussed at this summit is low, according to NK News, a U.S.-based media outlet specializing in North Korea.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.