Xi, Kim Push for Greater Country Ties  06/09 09:47

   Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un underscored 
their commitment to deepen cooperation and rebuild their complicated 
traditional alliance, as Xi is on a rare visit to Pyongyang in a likely attempt 
to reassert Beijing's unique influence over its socialist neighbor.

   SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean 
leader Kim Jong Un underscored their commitment to deepen cooperation and 
rebuild their complicated traditional alliance, as Xi is on a rare visit to 
Pyongyang in a likely attempt to reassert Beijing's unique influence over its 
socialist neighbor.

   It's extremely difficult to independently verify reports released by 
state-controlled media outlets of North Korea and China. But their dispatches 
on the meeting touted a joint push for greater cooperation while not mentioning 
North Korea's banned pursuit of nuclear weapons. This implies the summit 
produced outcomes both leaders could portray as gains; Xi reaffirms influence 
on North Korea and Kim wins some economic and political benefits.

   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.

   Xi was given pomp-filled, extravagant welcome ceremony

   Upon arrival at Pyongyang's international airport on Monday, Xi and his wife 
Peng Liyuan were greeted by Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju, who broadly smiled and 
clapped.

   Xi later arrived at Pyongyang's main square, where a military honor guard 
and thousands of people, including children carrying balloons and hopping, 
staged a welcoming ceremony. Buildings surrounding the plaza were draped in the 
two countries' flags, giant portraits of Kim and Xi and red-and-yellow banners 
welcoming the Chinese leader and celebrating the nations' "friendship and 
unity."

   In the evening, Kim threw a banquet for Xi and his delegation.

   Kim calls North Korea-China ties 'most important'

   In a summit later Monday, Xi expressed China's willingness to expand 
cooperation in a wide range of areas including trade, agriculture, construction 
and technology, China's state broadcaster CCTV said in an online report.

   Xi said the two countries should strengthen strategic cooperation and firmly 
safeguard their respective sovereignty and security interests, according to the 
report.

   Kim, for his part, affirmed that North Korea and China will maintain their 
friendship as "the most important top-priority strategic work," the official 
Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday. Kim called Xi "the greatest state 
guest," saying he views the fact Xi chose North Korea as a destination for his 
first foreign travel this year as "the most encouraging support" to North 
Korea, according to KCNA.

   Kim also reiterated Pyongyang's support for Beijing's "one-China principle," 
a reference to Beijing's official position that Taiwan is an inalienable part 
of China's territory. Kim and Xi also discussed international and regional 
issues and reached broad agreement on strengthening strategic coordination to 
safeguard their shared interests, KCNA said.

   Sway over North Korea could help Xi's dealings with US

   China has long been North Korea's economic lifeline and main diplomatic 
backer. Experts say China has avoided fully enforcing U.N. sanctions on North 
Korea and sent clandestine aid to help its impoverished neighbor stay afloat. 
This year marks 65 years since the two countries signed a mutual defense treaty.

   But there have been questions about their ties in recent years, with North 
Korea prioritizing cooperation with Russia by supplying troops and weapons to 
support its war against Ukraine. In return, North Korea has received economic 
and military assistance from Russia.

   Restoring an exclusive influence over North Korea would give Xi leverage in 
dealings with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his 
desire to restart diplomacy with Kim. Xi and Trump met in Beijing last month 
and are to meet again in the U.S. in September.

   Xi's trip was meant to demonstrate China's "sway over the Korean Peninsula" 
and "a leadership role in entire Northeast Asia in the age of strategic 
competition with the U.S.," said Kwak Gil Sup, the head of One Korea Center, a 
website specializing in North Korea affairs.

   "Implementing U.N. Security Council resolutions and enforcing sanctions do 
not appear to be priorities for China," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at 
Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

   Kim needs Xi's support for his nuke ambitions, economy revival

   A key takeaway from the Chinese and North Korean reports was that they 
didn't touch upon North Korea's nuclear program at all. No public mention of 
the subject by Xi was crucial for Kim, who is desperate to win international 
recognition as a nuclear weapons state as a way to call for lifting of U.N. 
sanctions on North Korea.

   That stands in contrast to Xi's trip to North Korea in 2019, when he was 
quoted by Chinese media as saying that Beijing was willing play a constructive 
role in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Xi's 2019 trip came after 
Kim's nuclear diplomacy with Trump collapsed earlier that year.

   After last month's summit between Trump and Xi, the White House said the two 
leaders confirmed their shared goal to denuclearize North Korea. But China only 
said the leaders discussed the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

   Ahead of Xi's trip, North Korea made it clear again that it's advancing 
nuclear program is non-negotiable. Kim unveiled a new plant to produce nuclear 
ingredients and vowed to bolster the country's nuclear forces "at an 
exponential rate." His sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, also dismissed 
as an "anachronistic dream" a U.S. push for the denuclearization of North Korea.

   South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told reporters Monday that North Korea 
is producing enough nuclear ingredients annually for about 10 to 20 bombs and 
is close to perfecting intercontinental ballistic missile technology.

   "Chinese officials have taken the position of not speaking publicly about 
denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula while still maintaining it as a 
long-term goal. Kim appears to want Xi to accept North Korea as a nuclear 
neighbor," Easley said.

   Xi could have offered economic aid packages such as shipments of rice and 
fertilizers and a resumption of Chinese group tourism to North Korea as well, 
analysts said.

   "North Korea can't solely rely on Russia. It needs to align with China," 
Kwak said.

   Two-way trade volume between China and North Korea last year recovered to 
pre-pandemic levels. Earlier this year, the countries also resumed direct 
flights and passenger trains that were stalled since the pandemic. Xi said 
Monday that both nations should use the reopening of flight and train services 
as a chance to expand people-to-people exchanges.