BEIJING, China: Xi Jinping will visit North Korea next week from June 8 to June 9, 2026.
Okay News reports that CCTV announced the itinerary on Friday, June 5, 2026, stating the visit comes at the invitation of Kim Jong Un.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing on Friday that the two leaders will “exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern”. Mao Ning stated the visit was “an opportunity to promote the development” of bilateral relations and “make greater contributions to regional and even world peace”.
The trip marks the first official overseas travel for Xi Jinping this year, following consecutive summits he hosted last month in Beijing with United States President Donald Trump and Russia President Vladimir Putin.
The last meeting between Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un occurred in September, when the North Korean leader attended a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over imperial Japan in World War II. According to 2022 statistics from the National Committee on North Korea, a Washington-based think tank, North Korea depends on China for up to 95 percent of total trade and 85 percent of its exports.
On Wednesday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Jong Un visited a new atomic facility and vowed an “exponential” increase in nuclear military capabilities.
