ANALYSIS: North Korea, China claim wins from Xi visit, but limits remain

SEOUL/BEIJING - North Korea and China both claimed diplomatic gains following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit this week to the isolated state, a trip that elevated North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s international standing while drawing Pyongyang closer to Beijing’s strategic orbit.

During the two-day visit, the two countries exchanged strong public displays of friendship and pledged deeper cooperation. Kim greeted Xi with a 21-gun salute and cultural performances featuring both Chinese and North Korean songs. However, discussions reportedly avoided sensitive topics such as denuclearization and relations with the United States.

Kim has increasingly portrayed North Korea as a key actor in reshaping the global order, a position analysts say has been reinforced by its growing ties with Russia. “Having Xi now take his first trip out of country this year to visit Pyongyang on an agenda that didn’t include North Korea’s nuclear programme was a big win for Kim,” said Jenny Town, director of the Korea program at the Washington-based Stimson Center.

The absence of any public discussion on denuclearization marks a notable shift in China’s approach to North Korea, an issue that has historically strained relations between the two allies.

Ahead of the visit, Kim Yo Jong, Kim’s sister, criticized the United States for spreading misinformation after Washington claimed that Xi and former U.S. President Donald Trump had reaffirmed a shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea during talks in Beijing.

“Beijing has very clearly moved on from that issue and now tacitly accepts North Korea as a nuclear state, which likely puts China on an equal footing with Russia in Pyongyang’s eyes,” said Jeremy Chan, a China and Northeast Asia analyst at Eurasia Group. “China’s primary goal was to draw North Korea closer and counterbalance Russia’s growing influence.”

Chinese officials and scholars, however, insisted the visit was not directed against any third country. Zhang Yun, an international relations professor at Nanjing University, said the trip was aimed at strengthening traditional bilateral ties between Beijing and Pyongyang.

When asked about the absence of denuclearization discussions, China’s foreign ministry reiterated that its position on the Korean Peninsula remained “consistent and stable,” without addressing whether the omission signaled a shift in policy.

LIMITS TO COOPERATION

Despite the public displays of unity, analysts noted differences in how both sides framed the visit. North Korea emphasized symbolism and equality in its relationship with China, while Beijing focused on practical cooperation in areas such as trade, tourism, and law enforcement.

Observers say this divergence highlights limits in the relationship, even as both sides seek strategic advantage. Kim has strengthened ties with Russia in recent years, including reported military support linked to the war in Ukraine, while also benefiting from economic assistance.

“It is clear that Kim and Xi do not have the kind of rapport Kim has with Vladimir Putin,” said Town. “There seems to be little personal affinity, but both recognize the strategic value of the relationship.”

Analysts also noted Kim’s explicit endorsement of China’s “One China” principle, which asserts that Taiwan is part of a single China, as well as references to military cooperation as notable developments.

“North Korea’s support for Russia has shown it can provide material assistance to a major power in wartime,” said Chad O’Carroll, founder of NK News. “There is no evidence yet of a comparable commitment to China, but DPRK messaging on Taiwan now matters more than before.”

Attention also focused on the absence of Kim’s daughter, Ju Ae, who has previously appeared at major state events and is widely viewed by South Korean intelligence as a potential successor. She accompanied Kim on a visit to Beijing last year but was not seen in official images from this trip.

Benjamin Ho, associate professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said her absence aligned with Beijing’s preference for protocol. “Given China’s approach, it would be unusual for a child to appear among senior officials in such formal settings,” he said.

-Reporting by Brenda Goh in Seoul, Liz Lee and Xiuhao Chen in Beijing; Editing by Kate Mayberry/Reuters