Xi's Pyongyang Visit: China Reasserts Its Hold Over North Korea

Xi Jinping's June 8 visit to North Korea—his first in seven years—shows Beijing determined to keep its influence over Pyongyang, even as North Korea grows closer to Russia. The summit signals to Washington that any strategy toward North Korea must account for Chinese backing. For Kim Jong Un, the visit demonstrates his country's standing on the world stage. Such high-level visits are how China maintains itself as North Korea's most essential partner.