What happened when China’s Xi Jinping visited North Korea for first time in 7 years

Friendship Tower and a planted tree

On Tuesday, Xi visited the Sino-Korean Friendship Tower in Pyongyang, which commemorates Chinese soldiers killed in the Korean War. The two leaders also jointly planted a fir tree at a key political training school for dedicated members – a gesture China’s state news agency Xinhua described as symbolising “ever-renewing friendship.”

Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan attended a performance of Chinese and North Korean songs, accompanied by Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju, along with senior officials. Kim also hosted a banquet for Xi’s delegation, at which Xi expressed his desire to “share friendship” with Kim.

Xi said Chinese-North Korean relations had reached a “new historical starting point” at the event marking the 65th anniversary of the two countries’ friendship treaty.

Same summit, different messaging

Despite the display of goodwill, analysts noted that the two countries’ official summaries of the summit reflected different priorities.

While Xinhua detailed proposals on high-level exchanges, trade, agriculture, and the restoration of transport links, KCNA framed the summit more broadly as a meeting between equal partners.

“North Korea removed elements that could make it look like a subordinate, dependent, or beneficiary party, and rewrote the relationship as one between equals,” said Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification. “It amplified signals of solidarity, such as anti-US and Taiwan-related messages, while erasing signals of dependence or subordination,” according to Reuters.

Lim Eul-chul, a professor at South Korea’s Kyungnam University, said Pyongyang stressed regime dignity and the neighbours’ “special relationship.” At the same time, Beijing emphasised practical state-to-state ties and its vision for international order.

Nuclear question left unaddressed

North Korean state media made no mention of the country’s nuclear weapons programme or of relations with the United States in its account of the talks – a notable absence given the broader regional context.

“The absence of such mentions suggests Beijing would like the visit cast in terms of the ties between the two countries,” said Ja Ian Chong, a political science professor at the National University of Singapore.

During his first term, US President Donald Trump met Kim three times in an unprecedented diplomatic effort that ultimately broke down over American demands that North Korea abandon its nuclear programme. Trump has since said he would be willing to restart talks.

“While it is highly likely that the leaders of China and North Korea would confer before Kim might meet Trump again, it is doubtful that Xi will serve as a catalyst for US-North Korea talks,” said Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

China is North Korea’s largest trade partner. Analysts had said ahead of the visit that Xi’s trip was likely to focus on trade and tourism. Xi was set to return to China on Tuesday afternoon.

(Inputs from Reuters)