Xi Jinping May Visit North Korea As Trump-Kim Diplomacy Talks Gain Momentum

KUALA LUMPUR,MAY,2026 – Chinese President Xi Jinping may visit North Korea as early as next week, raising speculation that Beijing could play a larger role in efforts to revive diplomacy between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump.

According to Reuters, citing South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, a senior South Korean government official said Xi may travel to North Korea soon and could seek to act as a mediator between Kim and Trump. Another government source cited by Yonhap said Chinese security and protocol officials had recently been in Pyongyang, suggesting that a visit by Xi in late May or early June was likely.

The possible visit comes shortly after Xi hosted Trump in China, making the timing politically significant. A visit to Pyongyang would allow Xi to reinforce China’s influence over North Korea while also positioning Beijing as an important player in any renewed talks over Pyongyang’s nuclear programme.

Trump, who met Kim three times during his first term, has previously said he remains open to meeting the North Korean leader again and has described their relationship positively. However, past rounds of Trump-Kim diplomacy did not produce a final agreement to halt North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.

The latest speculation reflects a broader shift in regional diplomacy. China remains North Korea’s most important economic and political ally, but relations between Beijing and Pyongyang had cooled during the Covid-19 pandemic as North Korea shut its borders and reduced external engagement. Both sides have since made efforts to rebuild ties.

Reuters previously reported that China has been deepening engagement with North Korea through border infrastructure, trade links and diplomatic activity, as Beijing seeks to reassert influence over Pyongyang at a time when North Korea has also grown closer to Russia.

A potential Xi visit would therefore carry several messages. For North Korea, it would show that Pyongyang still has strong backing from Beijing despite years of sanctions and diplomatic isolation. For China, it would demonstrate that Beijing remains central to any major diplomatic move involving the Korean Peninsula.

The South Korean foreign ministry said it hoped exchanges between North Korea and China would contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. However, Seoul declined to comment directly on reports of Xi’s possible visit.

The reported visit also comes as Trump’s administration continues to show interest in reopening dialogue with Kim. In August 2025, Trump said he wanted to meet Kim again and looked forward to doing so at an appropriate time, although North Korea had not immediately responded to those remarks.

For Washington, any renewed contact with Pyongyang would likely focus on North Korea’s nuclear and missile programme. North Korea, however, has continued to develop its weapons capabilities and has repeatedly insisted that the United States must change its approach before meaningful talks can resume.

For Beijing, acting as a mediator could strengthen China’s diplomatic profile after recent high-level meetings involving Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. A successful diplomatic role on North Korea would allow China to present itself as a stabilising force in a region shaped by nuclear tensions, US alliances and strategic rivalry.

The timing is also important because North Korea has been expanding cooperation with Russia since the war in Ukraine. Reuters reported that Kim’s pivot toward Moscow has allowed North Korea to diversify its diplomatic and economic options, including through military and material support linked to Russia’s war effort.

China may now be seeking to ensure that North Korea does not move too far into Moscow’s orbit. A visit by Xi would help Beijing reaffirm its traditional influence over Pyongyang while reminding Washington and Seoul that China remains a key actor in Korean Peninsula diplomacy.

At the same time, any mediation effort would face major obstacles. North Korea has shown little willingness to give up its nuclear arsenal, while the United States continues to call for denuclearisation. The lack of trust between Washington and Pyongyang remains a central barrier to any breakthrough.

If Xi’s visit goes ahead, it would likely be closely watched by South Korea, Japan and the United States. Regional governments will be looking for signs of whether China is simply strengthening ties with North Korea or actively preparing the ground for a new round of Trump-Kim talks.

For now, the visit has not been officially confirmed by Beijing or Pyongyang. However, reports of Chinese protocol and security preparations in North Korea suggest that diplomatic movement may be underway.

Overall, the possibility of Xi Jinping visiting North Korea highlights China’s growing role in shaping regional diplomacy. As Trump signals openness to renewed talks with Kim, Beijing may be preparing to position itself as the bridge between Washington and Pyongyang while protecting its own strategic interests on the Korean Peninsula.