Three Strategic Moves in Wang Yi's Six-Year Return to North Korea: Exchange, Influence, and Strategic Coordination

Pace of North Korea-China Relations Restoration Amidst US-China Summit and International Dynamics

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui (Pyongyang Korean Central News Agency=Yonhap News) Choe Son Hui, North Korean Foreign Minister, held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at Kumgumsan Guesthouse in Pyongyang on the 9th, Korean Central News Agency reported on the 10th. The photo shows Choe Son Hui, North Korean Foreign Minister (right), and Wang Yi, Chinese Foreign Minister, shaking hands for a commemorative photo. 2026.4.10 

Attention is focused on the backdrop of Wang Yi, China's foreign policy chief and Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (concurrently serving as Foreign Minister), visiting North Korea amidst the US-Iran conflict and the upcoming US-China summit next month.

Experts view Wang's visit as highly likely to signal a revival of China's influence over North Korea, coupled with the revitalization of North Korea-China exchanges.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 10th, Wang met with Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Pyongyang yesterday to discuss the development of bilateral relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Both sides agreed to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation based on their traditional friendly relations.

Wang's last visit to North Korea was in 2019, marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between North Korea and China.

Since then, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping have engaged in reciprocal visits, showcasing their close ties.

However, in recent years, North Korea's enhanced economic and military cooperation with Russia has led to a general perception that North Korea-China relations have cooled somewhat.

Wang's current visit to Pyongyang is noteworthy in that it comes amidst a recent trend of resuming exchanges after a period of cooled relations.

Kim Jong Un visited Beijing in September of last year for talks with President Xi, and in the same month, Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui made an unprecedented trip to China again.

Subsequently, Chinese Premier Li Qiang led a party and government delegation to North Korea to attend the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Furthermore, a trend of normalizing exchanges has become evident, with the resumption of international passenger train services between Beijing and Pyongyang and flights by Air China last month.

Experts are paying attention to the possibility that North Korea-China relations may move beyond "restoration" to a phase of "re-intensification" through this visit.

Jeong Jae-heung, Senior Research Fellow at the Sejong Institute, told Yonhap News, "There is a high possibility that bilateral exchanges, which have been stagnant, will expand in areas such as personnel and economic cooperation through Wang's visit. Especially, the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge will be a turning point for expanded exchanges."

He analyzed, "If China invites Kim Jong Un and a summit dialogue takes place, North Korea-China relations could be elevated to a new level. This visit also has the nature of pre-coordinating the issue of Kim Jong Un's visit to China."

Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping hold North Korea-China summit (Pyongyang Korean Central News Agency=Yonhap News) Korean Central News Agency reported on the 5th that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who visited China to attend the 80th anniversary of the Victory Day military parade, held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the afternoon of the 4th. 2025.9.5 

Interpretations suggest that calculations to respond to the international situation are also at play.

Jeong stated, "In a situation where the Iran war, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Korean Peninsula situation are complexly intertwined, it is highly probable that North Korea and China discussed strengthening strategic solidarity. In the context of strengthened North Korea-China-Russia cooperation, China is approaching with a view to reorganizing the new international order."

On the other hand, Hwang Tae-yeon, Associate Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, emphasized China's "need for management."

He said, "From China's perspective, there was a need to assess potential variables such as the level of relations between North Korea and Iran. Ahead of the US-China summit, there is an aspect of managing issues that could have an impact, such as the nuclear issue, in advance."

He added, "As China expands its solidarity with the Global South, diplomatic cooperation with North Korea is inevitable. North Korea also needs to strengthen its relationship with China for economic benefits."

Opinions are divided on the possibility of prior discussions on Korean Peninsula issues ahead of President Trump's visit to China.

Jeong Research Fellow opined, "Given the complexity of US-China issues, such as Taiwan, Iran, and the Russia-Ukraine situation, it is unlikely that the North Korean issue will be a major agenda item."

Conversely, Hwang Research Fellow predicted, "There is room for the North Korean issue to be mentioned in relation to the nuclear issue and other matters."

Wang's visit to North Korea is assessed to encompass multi-layered objectives, including resuming exchanges, restoring summit diplomacy, expanding economic cooperation, and strengthening strategic coordination.

Meanwhile, some suggest the possibility of US-China leaders discussing the Korean Peninsula issue, with North Korea and China coordinating their positions in advance and potentially pursuing a summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un based on this.