diplomacy
China and North Korea want to increase exchanges
Updated April 10, 2026 – 2:50 p.mReading time: 1 min.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi traveled to Pyongyang for the first time in six years. When meeting with ruler Kim Jong Un, both countries make a promise.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un announced at a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that he would intensify exchanges between the two countries. In addition, Pyongyang and Beijing are ready to play an appropriate role for peace and stability in the world, said Kim, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Wang said China and North Korea should resolutely defend their sovereignty, security and development interests in view of the international situation. They also want to further strengthen communication and coordination in important international and regional matters.
Wang’s first visit to North Korea in six years came a little over a month before US President Donald Trump’s planned trip to China. China is considered an important supporter of the internationally isolated North Korea. Both sides recently resumed train and flight connections that had been canceled at the start of the corona pandemic.
North Korea and China have historically close ties: During the Korean War (1950–1953), troops of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army fought on the side of communist North Korea. To date, North Korea is the only country to which China has guaranteed military support in the event of a defense through an agreement.
