Xi in Pyongyang: China Moves to Reclaim North Korea from Russia’s Orbit

Chinese President Xi Jinping has made a rare, high-profile state visit to North Korea, marking his first trip to Pyongyang in nearly seven years. Received with a lavish red-carpet welcome by leader Kim Jong-un, the visit underscores a critical pivot point in Northeast Asian geopolitics as Beijing moves to reassert its strategic influence. In recent months, North Korea has rapidly gravitated toward the Russian orbit, exchanging weapons and soldiers for oil and aid from Moscow. Observers note that Xi's visit serves as a calculated reminder to Kim Jong-un that despite growing ties with Vladimir Putin, China remains North Korea's ultimate economic lifeline and dominant trading partner. The summit unfolds amid escalating nuclear tensions, with Kim Jong-un announcing plans to exponentially increase nuclear production capacity ahead of the meeting. Experts suggest that while Beijing is privately wary of Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions pulling the US, Japan, and South Korea into a tighter defense alliance, the goal of "denuclearization" is now off the table. Al Jazeera's Jack Barton reports from Seoul, featuring deep-dive analysis on China's diplomatic leverage and economic "red tourism" strategies from Intelligence Studies Professor Benjamin Young.

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