President Xi and Chairman Kim meet in Pyongyang (right) [Xinhua · AP=Yonhap News]

Foreign media assessed that the North Korea-China summit held on the 8th led the two countries to promise deeper cooperation and elevate their relationship, while also demonstrating a united front against the West.

The U.S. daily The Washington Post (WP) commented that Chairman Kim Jong Un of North Korea and President Xi Jinping of China celebrated the "unbreakable bond" between the two countries, showcasing a united front against the Western-led international order.

The U.S. daily The New York Times (NYT) reported that President Xi emphasized close strategic communication and strengthened exchanges in all fields with Chairman Kim, interpreting this as an intention to balance against Russia's growing influence in North Korea.

It further added that through this visit to Pyongyang, President Xi subtly reminded Chairman Kim that "China is the most important benefactor and economic partner, and a defensive wall against the United States."

It elaborated, "If Chairman Kim can successfully balance between the two powerful neighboring countries of China and Russia, he may become more uninhibited in developing nuclear weapons, thereby further unsettling the U.S. allies in the region who are concerned about China's military rise and the U.S.'s commitment to its defense treaties."

CNN also commented on President Xi's visit to Pyongyang, stating, "While North Korea and Russia have been strengthening their ties, China's clear message is that 'North Korea's most important economic lifeline and diplomatic partner is China.'"

It continued, "For North Korea, President Xi's visit to Pyongyang marks another chapter in its long-standing balancing diplomacy, seeking military and economic benefits from both China and Russia without overly relying on either side."

The U.S. daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that President Xi is seeking to build a united front centered around China against the West, and that he is trying to reconfirm China's influence over Chairman Kim, whose power has been bolstered by his close relationship with Russia.

It viewed the main objective of the summit for Chairman Kim as securing economic benefits that only China can provide, without abandoning nuclear weapons.

Foreign media also noted that President Xi did not publicly mention North Korea's denuclearization.

The NYT pointed out that China's announcement following the North Korea-China summit did not mention the nuclear program. While past announcements after North Korea-China meetings included cooperation to end North Korea's nuclear program, such content has disappeared since Chairman Kim's visit to China in September last year.

Bloomberg News reported that President Xi stated he would expand cooperation in various fields with Chairman Kim but avoided public comments on North Korea's nuclear program.

The news agency analyzed that President Xi reaffirmed China's traditional position as North Korea's most important political patron and economic lifeline, instead of publicly pressuring Chairman Kim for denuclearization.

WP also quoted Professor Zhu Feng of Nanjing University as saying, "China wants to better understand North Korea's policy and strategic calculations of declaring itself a nuclear state and refusing denuclearization talks with the U.S."

Yonhap News noted that both North Korea and China wish to fully restore their traditional alliance in the face of confrontation with the U.S., and cited experts' forecasts that this summit would have significant repercussions not only for North Korea-China relations but also beyond.

North Korea-China summit held in Pyongyang [Xinhua=Yonhap News]

British media closely watched President Xi's visit to Pyongyang and his summit with Chairman Kim, analyzing that China is attempting to regain its influence over North Korea, which has wavered in recent years, while North Korea makes no secret of its nuclear ambitions. They particularly suspect that this is also intended to check the strengthened North Korea-Russia ties, which have been bolstered by North Korea's participation in the war in Ukraine.

BBC stated, "For President Xi, North Korea is a neighbor that China can neither control nor afford to lose by ignoring it," adding, "Distrust has strained relations between the two countries in recent years, and China is now trying to reassert its influence over a strategically vital but completely unpredictable partner."

The broadcast further commented, "China wants border stability and influence over North Korea, but it does not want to get caught up in a crisis triggered by North Korea's nuclear ambitions," suggesting that "President Xi's visit to Pyongyang is more likely about securing influence than about fostering friendly relations."

The broadcast also cited Western diplomatic sources who said, "China is increasingly concerned about the expanding cooperation between North Korea and Russia."

Ankit Panda, a senior researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, pointed out, "Amidst the rapid closeness between North Korea and Russia, China wants to secure its own interests regarding North Korea."

The daily Financial Times (FT) also quoted experts' assessments that "China intends to pressure North Korea, which is increasingly overt about its nuclear ambitions, to engage in dialogue with neighboring countries."

Zhu Feng, an expert in international relations at Nanjing University, stated, "From China's perspective, North Korea needs to dialogue with its neighbors for peace and denuclearization. More importantly, China believes North Korea needs to increase its economic and social interactions to break away from isolation and become peace-oriented."

Peter Ward, a North Korea expert at the Sejong Institute, said, "For President Xi, going to Pyongyang and renewing his relationship with Chairman Kim is aimed at preventing North Korea from becoming too close to Russia compared to China."