Xi Jinping to visit North Korea June 8-9, first trip since 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping returned home on Tuesday following a rare trip to North Korea that included a bilateral meeting and public appearances with leader Kim Jong-un underscoring a joint push to reestablish the alliance between their countries. Xi flew to the capital Pyongyang on Monday in his first visit there in seven years. During their summit later in the day, Xi expressed China’s willingness to expand cooperation in a wide range of areas including trade, agriculture, construction and technology, while Kim said the two countries will maintain their friendship as “the most important top-priority strategic work,” according to Chinese and North Korean state media reports. Xi and Kim on Tuesday visited a North Korea-China friendship tower honoring Chinese soldiers who fought alongside North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. They stressed the importance of carrying forward the countries’ traditional friendship and spirit of resistance against the United States, Chinese state media reported. The leaders, who last met in Beijing in September, also toured a ruling Workers

Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed an “invincible friendship” with North Korea ahead of his visit to Pyongyang on Monday, seeking closer ties as nuclear talks with Washington remain stalled. Analysts say Beijing now prioritizes regime stability and sees North Korea as a strategic buffer amid growing rivalry with the United States.

Xi has wrapped up a two-day visit to Pyongyang, his first official trip to North Korea since 2019.

It was Xi's first visit to North Korea in seven years. Xi and Kim last met in Beijing in September after viewing a military parade alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and other foreign leaders.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, making his first visit to North Korea in seven years, told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that he would use his trip as an opportunity to make significant progress in bilateral relations, KCNA said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping received a red carpet welcome on a rare visit to North Korea ahead of a two-day summit. CBS News' Anna Coren has more.