Chinese leader Xi heads to North Korea for closely watched talks with Kim
Source: AP
By HYUNG-JIN KIM
Updated 9:23 PM CDT, June 7, 2026
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping departed for Pyongyang on Monday in his first visit in seven years, a trip likely meant to reassert China’s unique influence over North Korea in return for providing economic and political benefits.
China’s official Xinhua news agency described Xi’s trip as a state visit and his entourage includes his wife Peng Liyuan and top officials including Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
During his two-day stay, Xi is to meet leader Kim Jong Un. It will be their first summit since September in Beijing after attending a military parade with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other foreign leaders.
No specific agenda has been mentioned. Foreign experts predict the meeting will have big ramifications on bilateral ties and beyond, as they both seek to fully restore their traditional alliance in the face of separate confrontations with the U.S.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/china-north-korea-xi-kim-3aa60c2ed4f7a115c0c297df4dd04118