[Alpha Biz= Ellie Kim] i Jinping is reportedly considering a visit to North Korea as early as next week, marking his first trip to Pyongyang since 2019, where he is expected to meet Kim Jong Un.

According to senior government sources on May 20, intelligence indicates Xi could travel to North Korea in late May or early June. Time also reported that preparations are underway for a potential state visit.

If confirmed, the visit would come about seven years after Xi’s last trip to Pyongyang and signal a renewed push to strengthen China-North Korea ties.

The move follows Xi’s recent meetings with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, highlighting Beijing’s broader diplomatic efforts amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Analysts view the potential visit as an attempt by China to reassert its influence over North Korea, particularly as Pyongyang has moved closer to Moscow in the wake of the Ukraine war. North Korea and Russia have recently deepened military and strategic cooperation, raising concerns in Beijing about losing leverage on the Korean Peninsula.

 

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