Xi Jinping's Visit to North Korea: German Media Says Beijing Fears Pyongyang's Drift Toward Russia

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a state visit to North Korea from August 8 to 9, marking his first trip to the country in seven years and drawing significant international attention. The Berliner Zeitung, a German newspaper, commented that Xi's strategic objective was clear: to prevent Pyongyang from fully falling into Russia's embrace.

According to the Chinese-language website of Deutsche Welle (DW), the Berliner Zeitung's analysis suggests that Xi's visit was aimed at reasserting Beijing's influence over North Korea amid rapidly deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.

Titled 'The Strategic Calculus Behind the Grand Political Spectacle,' the commentary notes, 'It has been seven years since Xi last visited this nearly isolated country, and today North Korea no longer appears entirely dependent on China.'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un rolled out an exceptionally grand welcome for Xi's visit. While the large-scale military parade and two days of public events were ostensibly meant to showcase unity between the two nations, growing signs indicate that Beijing's primary goal was to prevent North Korea from further aligning with Russia strategically.

The Berliner Zeitung points out that since North Korea and Russia signed a mutual support treaty two years ago, the balance of power among China, Russia, and North Korea has been shifting. By supplying weapons to Russia and expanding military and economic cooperation, Kim Jong-un has significantly broadened his diplomatic options compared to just a few years ago.

The commentary argues, 'This may precisely be why Xi Jinping visited Pyongyang now: to signal to Pyongyang that while Russia is certainly an important partner, China remains North Korea’s irreplaceable protector.'

The wording used by Xi Jinping during his talks with Kim Jong-un was particularly telling. Xi stated that regardless of how the international situation evolves, the Chinese Communist Party and government will always cherish the traditional friendship between China and North Korea. He emphasized that China’s 'firm support' for the socialist path under Kim Jong-un’s leadership 'will never change.'

The Berliner Zeitung interprets this as a clear commitment from Xi to Kim—Beijing will not abandon North Korea as a military ally, even as geopolitical dynamics shift.

Notably, the official Chinese readout of the visit made no mention of the 'denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,' a topic that has long been a focal point in international discussions. This omission has drawn widespread interpretation.

The commentary highlights that what Xi did not say may be even more significant. In previous summit meetings, 'achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula' was a standard diplomatic refrain from Beijing. Its complete absence in this visit suggests that, for China, maintaining political stability in North Korea may now outweigh concerns over its nuclear program.