![Chinese President Xi Jinping departs Pyongyang by state aircraft on June 9 afternoon after completing his two-day, one-night visit, seen off by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/10/news-p.v1.20260610.733da6914448461a9d927077a957ab3a_P1.jpg)
The People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, gave prominent, sustained coverage to Chinese President Xi Jinping's June 8-9 visit to North Korea. Analysts say the paper appears to be emphasizing that China-North Korea relations have entered a new phase — defined by political trust, security and strategic cooperation, and mutual support for each other's systems, rather than by denuclearization or peace-regime discussions, which were absent from the summit agenda.
In its Wednesday edition, the paper devoted a page-two article to the significance of the summit between Xi and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, under the headline "Let us continuously lead China-North Korea relations to new heights," Yonhap News Agency reported.
The paper described the meeting as one grounded in "deep historical accumulation, a solid political foundation, and strong emotional bonds," and said it had set a new milestone in the development of bilateral ties.
The paper also gave prominent space to the four principles Xi put forward for advancing the relationship: strengthening political mutual trust through high-level exchanges; expanding practical cooperation to improve the welfare of both peoples; deepening people-to-people ties by carrying forward the tradition of friendship; and intensifying strategic cooperation on the basis of fairness and justice.
"The inter-party relationship has played an important role in driving the development of China-North Korea relations," the paper said, adding that both parties should expand and invigorate friendly exchanges at all levels and in all fields, and deepen mutual learning on governance experience.
Having run five photographs of Xi and Kim together on its front page the previous day, the People's Daily continued to highlight the bilateral relationship on Wednesday. It placed four photographs on its front page — showing Xi and Kim paying tribute together at the Tower of Friendship, a symbol of China-North Korea friendship; Xi planting a commemorative tree at the Korean Workers' Party Central Cadre School; and scenes from a luncheon and the airport farewell ceremony.
North Korean state media also expands coverage
North Korean state media also provided detailed coverage of the second day of Xi's state visit on Wednesday.
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Korean Workers' Party and the main publication read by North Korean citizens, devoted four of its six pages to Xi's visit, Yonhap reported.
The front page featured the national emblems and flags of both countries, along with the phrase "The history and tradition of China-North Korea friendship shall be eternal" in red lettering, and carried 10 photographs alongside coverage of Xi's wreath-laying at the Tower of Friendship. The tower is a monument honoring Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers who died in North Korea during the Korean War.
Page two covered Xi's visit to the Korean Workers' Party Central Cadre School, while page three featured photographs of Xi and Kim dining with their respective spouses in front of a large aquarium.
Korean Central Broadcasting Station, the domestic radio service, began airing coverage of Xi's visit from 7 a.m. Wednesday. The Korean Central News Agency also reported on the visit, releasing 52 photographs.
North Korean media had similarly given extensive coverage to the first day of Xi's visit on Tuesday. The Rodong Sinmun expanded its usual six-page edition to 10 pages that day.
yul@heraldcorp.com
