Xi says China-North Korea ties enter 'new historic journey'

Kim Ju-ae, rumored heir apparent, absent from Xi's official schedule

Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping shake hands after watching a performance held at the Pyongyang Gymnasium on Monday to welcome the Chinese president, KCNA reported Tuesday. [Yonhap]
Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping shake hands after watching a performance held at the Pyongyang Gymnasium on Monday to welcome the Chinese president, KCNA reported Tuesday. [Yonhap]

Xi Jinping's one-night state visit to North Korea concluded with the Chinese president sending a message of thanks, saying he was "satisfied with the outcomes of the visit" and that "China-North Korea relations have entered a new historic journey." The summit also prompted a notable shift in how the international community views Kim Jong-un — from "Rocket Man" to "agile geopolitical player."

According to KCNA, Xi sent the message of gratitude on Tuesday, the day he returned to China, expressing appreciation for the warm reception from Kim, his wife Ri Sol-ju and the North Korean people. Xi said the visit had "fully demonstrated the deep friendship between the two parties and two countries."

Xi said the in-depth exchange of views on issues of mutual concern and the series of important shared understandings reached between himself and Kim had "added new substance to China-North Korea relations for the new era."

The Rodong Sinmun, the ruling Workers' Party's official newspaper, devoted four of its six pages to coverage of Xi's visit. The front page featured the national emblems and flags of both countries, with the phrase "The history and tradition of China-North Korea friendship shall be eternal" printed in red.

Foreign media also reassessed Kim in the wake of the summit. Bloomberg said the meeting signaled that Kim "has emerged from isolated leader to agile geopolitical player," noting that he had leveraged China's desire to check growing North Korea-Russia ties to extract significant concessions — including Beijing's tacit acceptance of his nuclear program.

Jenny Town, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, said Russia was already firmly in North Korea's corner, and that re-adding a high-level relationship with China "clearly demonstrates Kim's elevated standing." John Delury, a senior fellow at the Asia Society, said the optimal scenario for Kim was "to enjoy strong relations with both China and Russia without being trapped in a triangular dynamic as a much smaller state."

Japan's Asahi Shimbun assessed that the summit had created conditions for North Korea to continue developing its nuclear weapons and missiles while positioning itself for direct negotiations with the United States. Mimura Mitsuhiro, a professor at Niigata Prefectural University, said Kim had effectively secured China as a "backer" in any future dealings with Washington.

During Monday's summit talks, Xi put forward four proposals: consolidating high-level exchanges and political mutual trust; deepening multifaceted exchanges and mutual learning; elevating practical cooperation and promoting the welfare of both peoples; and carrying forward traditional friendship and strengthening bonds between the two nations' people. He particularly said the two sides should "strengthen exchanges in diplomacy, law enforcement and the military." It was the first time military exchanges had been raised at a bilateral summit between the two leaders, and the presence of North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang-chol and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun at the talks was described as unusual.

Meanwhile, Kim's daughter Kim Ju-ae was notably absent from Xi's official schedule during the visit. She has accompanied Kim on dozens of on-site inspections and political events, steadily raising her public profile. Her absence was seen as somewhat surprising given that she had traveled with Kim to Beijing last September for China's 80th anniversary of victory in World War II — a trip that had fueled speculation she was being groomed as his successor. Some observers suggested China may have been uncomfortable with her presence.


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