For The First Time In Seven Years, Chinese President Xi Jinping Visited North Korea To Meet North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un
Kim and Xi agreed to expand cooperation in politics, economy and culture.
For the first time in seven years, Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited North Korea to meet North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un as North Korea grows closer to Russia and more defiant about its nuclear weapons program.
Kim’s alliance with Russia has helped North Korea break out of isolation by providing oil, food, weapons technology and other aid in exchange for North Korean troops and weapons for Russia’s war in Ukraine, the New York Times reported.
Xi arrived in Pyongyang on Monday, June 8, with his wife, Peng Liyuan, and was welcomed by Kim and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, at the capital’s airport, according to the Financial Times.
The two leaders were later greeted again in Kim Il Sung Square, where thousands of people cheered and waved flags as giant portraits of Xi and Kim overlooked the scene.
Kim and Xi agreed to expand cooperation in politics, economy and culture.
Xi told Kim that China would support North Korea “no matter how the international situation changes,” while Kim told Xi that North Korea supported the “One China principle,” including Beijing's position that Taiwan is part of China.
The trip comes just days after Kim inspected a nuclear material facility and called for North Korea to expand its nuclear forces at an “exponential” rate, Reuters reported.
However, North Korean state media did not mention whether the two leaders discussed Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program or possible talks with the US, according to Reuters.
Experts and historians said Xi’s visit marked an effort to repair ties with Pyongyang that have been strained by Kim’s closer cooperation with Russia.
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