Sangmi Han
BBC Korean

For China, North Korea is the last piece of the puzzle in the anti-US alliance that Beijing is leading, says one analyst.

Jaechun Kim, Professor of International Relations and dean of the Graduate School of International Studies at Sogang University, says China is deepening cooperation with Russia amid strategic competition with the United States.

Pyongyang, he explains, has emerged as an "important axis" in that relationship - and Xi has faced a growing need to visit "in order to further solidify the trilateral cooperation structure" among the three countries.

For North Korea, though, the core agenda of this meeting is "expanding economic cooperation" rather than political or military matters, according to Kim Young-hee, a visiting researcher at the Institute for North Korean Studies at Dongguk University.

Flag-waving children, colourful balloons and a long red carpet: Take a look at these scenes from Xi's stately welcome when he arrived in Pyongyang early on Monday.

Yvette Tan
BBC News

Image source, Getty Images

It's been a busy few weeks for Chinese leader Xi Jinping - who had two separate meetings with US leader Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in May alone.

On 14 May, Trump landed in Beijing for a two-day summit - the first time an American president has been in the Chinese capital in almost a decade.

The trip saw both leaders stroll through the exclusive Zhongnanhai compound, attend a state banquet and hold a series of bilateral talks - a visit that has been described as more about "symbolism than substance", though a deal to purchase 200 Boeing jets did emerge days later.

Less than a week after, China hosted Putin for what was the Russian leader's 25th trip to China.

The trip - which had already been scheduled - saw both leaders speak highly of the strategic "partnership" between both countries.

"The visit comes right when Xi himself has been hosting a range of leaders... so an impression is that Xi and the PRC (People's Republic of China) are trying to demonstrate their centrality to the world," Professor Ian Chong of the National University of Singapore told the BBC.

"That would certainly be consistent with the idea of multipolarity, a rising PRC, and even the G2 idea Beijing seems to be pushing... that said, for all the attention the PRC has been getting and its demonstrations of coercive might in the maritime space in the Western Pacific, it continues to face serious economic headwinds."

Xi and Kim also went to the Central Cadre School of the Workers' Party of Korea this morning, Xinhua reported.

The school is North Korea's top political education institute.

The two leaders dropped in to observe a lecture, toured the campus by electric vehicle and planted a fir tree that symbolised China and North Korea's evergreen friendship, Xinhua reported.

Image source, Xinhua

Image source, Xinhua

Xi and Kim, along with their wives, visited the China-North Korea Friendship Tower this morning, according to Chinese state news outlet Xinhua.

The tower commemorates Chinese soldiers who fought in the Korean war, and Xi and Kim observed a moment of silence for the soldiers during their visit.

The two leaders agreed to continue the "spirit of resisting US aggression and aiding Korea", Xinhua reported.

Image source, Xinhua

During their talks on Monday, Kim said that North Korea would continue to uphold its friendship with China as a top priority, according to a readout published by state news outlet KCNA hours ago.

Kim also noted that Pyongyang being chosen as the destination for Xi's first state visit of the year shows the "utmost importance" placed on biltaeral ties.

The visit is a reminder of the strength of this friendship, even amid "upheaval in international affairs", he added.

Kim also reaffirmed his support for Beijing's "One China" principle as well as the policies of the Chinese Communist Party.

Image source, KCNA

Xi is accompanied on the state visit by some of the most important people in his government.

There's Cai Qi, the fifth-ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo leadership and Xi's de facto chief of staff. Cai was recently appointed head of the Central Party school, an elite institution that trains senior Chinese officials - a move that speaks to his closeness to the Chinese leader.

Also in Pyongyang is defence minister Dong Jun, who notably skipped the Shangri-La Dialogue - an Asian defence summit and rare chance for Chinese and US officials to interact - last month for the second year in a row.

Also in Pyongyang are foreign minister Wang Yi, who had visited in April, and commerce minister Wang Wentao.

Laignee Barron
BBC World Service

Burgeoning ties with Russia have put Kim Jong Un in a better negotiating position than in 2019, analysts say.

“Pyongyang now has an alternative source of diplomatic and economic support, reducing its dependence on Beijing,” said Eun-ju Choi, an expert on North Korean economic systems at the Seoul-based Sejong Institute.

It's likely that Kim will use this newfound sway to secure concrete takeaways - such as expanded trade, energy and food assistance, as well as more Chinese tourists - from the summit, she added.

Ahead of the leaders’ meeting, Beijing restarted passenger train service to Pyongyang as well as direct flights from China’s flag carrier, as Pyongyang opens its doors wider after sealing its borders in 2020,

Prior to the pandemic, Chinese tourists constituted the majority of foreign travellers to North Korea, with the 350,000 who visited in 2019 providing a notable revenue stream for Pyongyang, according to NK News.

Last evening, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan were treated to an elaborate evening performance at the Pyongyang Gymnasium. Here's a look at how it went:

Ian Tang
BBC Monitoring

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between China and North Korea.

Signed in 1961, it is considered China's only legally binding defence pact with any country, and demonstrates Beijing's commitment to and influence on Pyongyang.

Article 2 of the Treaty stated that "in the event of one of the contracting parties being subjected to the armed attack by any state or several states jointly and thus being involved in a state of war, the other contracting party shall immediately render military and other assistance by all means at its disposal."

Although the China-North Korea relationship has waxed and waned over time, both countries have continued to keep the Treaty in force, with the last renewal taking place in 2021.

However, North Korea also signed a similar pact with Russia in June 2024, which soured Beijing's relations with Pyongyang.

Image source, Xinhua

China and North Korea are "linked by mountains and rivers and share a common destiny", Xi said in a speech during a dinner banquet last night, as reported by Chinese state news outlet Xinhua.

Xi also said that he had "reached [an] important consensus" with Kim to "grasp the trend of the times" and to deepen both high-level cooperation and people-to-people bonds.

Image source, Xinhua

During his two-day visit to North Korea, Xi is staying in Kumsusan State Guest House, an exclusive residence in the heart of Pyongyang.

The Kumsusan guest house, built in 2019, is located near the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun - a mausoleum housing the bodies of North Korea's previous supreme leaders, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

The guest house was reportedly built ahead of Xi's visit to Pyongyang in 2019. Since then, it has hosted foreign leaders in recent years, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko.

Kim Jong Un is China's ally - but has become the 'comrade from hell'published at 03:17 BST

03:17 BST

Laura Bicker
China correspondent

China is moving to stabilise and reset its relationship with North Korea amid Pyongyang's growing alliance with Russia.

Concern in Beijing rose to a head in late 2024 as reports of North Korea deploying thousands of troops to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started emerging. Pyongyang reportedly receives financial compensation and military technology in exchange for these troops.

It increasingly appears as though China’s sanctioned neighbours are spiralling out of its control. Beijing, the senior partner in the triad, seeks to be the stable leader of a new world order, one that is not led by the US.

But that’s difficult to do when one ally has started a war in Europe and another is accused of aiding the invasion.

Analysts have noted that Kim has consistently flattered Putin over Xi in recent years - calling the Russian leader his "closest comrade", for example.

But even as Moscow may offer Pyongyang military and technological support, China remains North Korea’s only true economic lifeline, some analysts say.

If you're just joining us now - here's a recap of why exactly Xi is in North Korea:

Welcome back to our coverage of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea - his first trip to the country in seven years.

Xi, who is travelling with his wife, received a grand welcome in Pyongyang upon their arrival Monday: a military band performance, giant banners and what Chinese state news outlet Xinhua described as a "jubilant crowd".

In the evening they enjoyed a banquet with artistic performances.

Xi also held talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The two leaders vowed to deepen bilateral cooperation, state media reported.

Today is the second and last day of his visit to Pyongyang. We'll bring you updates as we get them - stick with us.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has received a colourful welcome to Pyongyang for his first visit to North Korea in seven years.

He received a red carpet welcome from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju, as well as a guard of honour and crowds waving Chinese and North Korean flags.

Xi has praised relations between China and North Korea, saying they stand at a "new historical starting point" and that the pair are "shouldering new missions of the times", according to a state media report.

We're going to pause our live coverage for now, but will bring you more updates from this rare visit tomorrow.

Be sure to join us then.

Ian Tang
BBC Monitoring

President Xi usually travels out of the country three to four times a year, but his first foreign trip is a closely watched affair, as it often sends signals of Beijing's diplomatic priorities for the year.

Here are some of the countries Xi chose for his first foreign trip of the year over the past few years:

• In 2022, following a lengthy absence in overseas travel due to the pandemic, Xi visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in September - signalling a shift in increased engagements with Central Asia
• In 2023, Xi's first overseas trip was to Russia. That trip was also his first visit to Moscow since the start of the Ukraine war over a year ago. In total, Xi has visited Russia 11 times since 2013, more than any other country
• In 2024, Xi started his first trip abroad in May with a three-country tour of Europe, visiting France, Serbia and Hungary. It came at a time where Beijing faced growing tensions with Europe over the Ukraine war and trade frictions
• In 2025, Xi's first foreign trip was to the Asean states of Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia in April. It came less than a week after he held a high-level party conference stressing the importance of further enhancing relations with neighbouring countries

Image source, Xinhua

Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrived by car to Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square, where a military band and a "jubilant crowd" eagerly awaited their arrival, according to Chinese state news outlet Xinhua.

They were greeted by Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju, flanked by banners that read "Eternal Friendship between North Korea and China" and "Long Live the Unbreakable Friendship and Unity between North Korea and China", the report added.

Xi then reviewed the guard of honour of the Korean People's Army- the elite ceremonial unit of North Korea's military - who shouted, in Korean, "Wishing Comrade Xi Jinping good health".

Image source, Xinhua

On-the-ground footage posted by Xinhua showed an enthusiastic response from people attending the ceremony, with children jumping excitedly and crowds of people waving Chinese and North Korean flags and flower bouquets.

Image source, Xinhua

Suranjana Tewari
Asia Business Correspondent

China is North Korea's most important economic partner, accounting for the majority of the country's official trade.That relationship has become even more important as North Korea faces heavy international sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme.

Trade between the two countries remains strong this year. In the first two months of 2026, bilateral trade rose 22% compared with the same period in 2025.

North Korea gets most of its imports from China, including fuel, food, electronics, machinery, vehicles and textiles - giving Beijing significant influence over leader Kim Jong Un.

China is also an important gateway for North Korean exports. Many North Korean products reach overseas buyers through Chinese companies and ports.

Fake hair and wigs make up a large share of North Korea's exports. Other exports include minerals such as tungsten, as well as frozen seafood, iron and steel products, and watch components.

The UN says North Korea also earns money by sending tens of thousands of workers overseas, particularly to China and Russia, to work in sectors including construction, logging, manufacturing and fishing.

Image source, CCTV

Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju were seen welcoming Xi on arrival, with footage from state broadcaster CCTV showing them clapping and smiling. The clip shows the red carpet being rolled out and North Korean troops lining both sides of it.

The CCTV clip does not feature Xi and his entourage, although Xinhua separately reported that Kim and Xi shook hands, and that North Korean children presented flowers to Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan.

Updates are just trickling in - neither Chinese nor North Korean state media have publicly reported what the two leaders are up to right now - but we'll bring you the latest as we get them.