China declines comment on Xi’s possible North Korea visit

May 26, 2026, 08:22 am

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Chinese President Xi Jinping is welcomed enthusiastically by Pyongyang citizens during his visit to North Korea in June 2019. Reports suggest another visit could take place as early as this week./Xinhua News Agency

China offered a cautious response to speculation that Chinese President Xi Jinping could soon visit North Korea for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, effectively taking a neither-confirm-nor-deny stance.

According to diplomatic sources in Beijing on May 26, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning declined to directly address reports during a regular press briefing the previous day, saying, “There is currently no information available to share regarding specific matters,” when asked to confirm whether China’s leader would visit North Korea in the near future.

At the same time, Mao emphasized the traditional relationship between the two countries, stating, “China and the DPRK are friendly socialist neighboring countries, and the two parties and nations have maintained a long tradition of friendly exchanges.” She added that such ties “serve the interests of both countries and contribute to regional peace and stability.”

Her remarks were interpreted by some observers as indirectly lending credibility to the possibility of a visit.

According to a report published on May 20 by Time citing anonymous sources, Xi could make a state visit to North Korea as early as this week. If realized, the trip would likely be viewed as a geopolitical signal aimed at Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has recently adopted a more assertive security posture departing from Japan’s traditional pacifist stance.

Diplomatic sources noted that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Pyongyang on April 9-10, where he met Kim Jong Un and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. Analysts believe the visit may have served as advance preparations for Xi’s possible trip.

If Xi visits North Korea, it would mark his first trip to Pyongyang since June 2019.

During the same briefing, Mao also responded to claims by Taiwan’s National Security Council secretary-general that China had deployed more than 100 vessels near the First Island Chain following the US-China summit. She dismissed the comments, saying, “Remarks by Taiwan independence separatist forces are not worth discussing,” while insisting that Chinese military activities “are always consistent with international law and international practices.”

Mao additionally denied a report by the Financial Times claiming Xi criticized Japan’s remilitarization and Prime Minister Takaichi during a summit with US President Donald Trump.

“The report does not match the situation understood by the Chinese side,” Mao said.

According to the Financial Times report, Xi sharply criticized Takaichi and Japan’s increased defense spending during the meeting, while Trump reportedly responded that Japan had little choice but to strengthen its security posture because of growing threats from North Korea.

Given the worsening state of China-Japan relations, analysts say the report appears plausible.

#Xi Jinping #North Korea #Kim Jong Un #China foreign ministry #Wang Yi