Why Xi's Trip to North Korea Matters for China's Power in Asia

Xi Jinping's June 2024 visit to Pyongyang—his first in seven years—signals Beijing's alarm over North Korea's deepening military ties with Russia. China has long counted on influence over its neighbour to maintain a stable buffer zone on its border. Now, with Moscow courting Pyongyang, that leverage is slipping. Xi's trip before Putin's suggests China is fighting to remind North Korea that Beijing remains its most important partner.