Friendship or leverage: Why is Xi Jinping going to North Korea?
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is visiting North Korea to reassert influence over the unpredictable state amid growing concerns about Pyongyang's deepening military ties with Russia. Beijing aims to balance its desire for regional stability with the need to manage North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
Why it matters
The visit highlights the shifting geopolitical dynamics in East Asia as China attempts to maintain its strategic leverage against the backdrop of the Russia-North Korea defense pact.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Laura Bicker China correspondent Getty Images Xi and Kim last met in September in Beijing at a military parade For Chinese leader Xi Jinping, North Korea is the neighbour China can neither control nor afford to lose.
The analysis provides a balanced view of China's strategic motivations and the complexities of its relationship with North Korea.
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