Warm welcome amid geopolitical shifts

Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were received with a military-style welcome ceremony in Pyongyang, featuring red carpets, guards of honour, and public celebrations, according to Chinese state media, as both countries highlighted their long-standing relationship.

China reaffirms strategic partnership

Xi said China was ready to deepen cooperation in diplomacy, law enforcement, and military affairs, stressing that the traditional friendship between the two countries would not change despite shifting global dynamics and North Korea’s closer ties with Russia.

Nuclear tensions remain unresolved

While China has long called for the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, North Korea has reiterated its commitment to its nuclear weapons programme. Analysts say Beijing is now prioritising regional stability and maintaining North Korea as a strategic buffer amid broader tensions with the United States and its allies.