According to foreign media reports and the Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 25, Kim visited Dandong, China, the previous day via the New Yalu River Bridge. Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the fourth-ranking figure in China's power hierarchy, greeted Kim, and the two sides confirmed their intent to expand economic cooperation. Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend; Wang conveyed Xi's greetings instead. Wang joined Kim at a ceremony honoring Chinese troops who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War, and Kim toured an automobile plant in Dandong before crossing back over the New Yalu River Bridge into North Korea, seen off by Wang and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Japan's Kyodo News noted that Kim had met Xi on all five of his previous visits to China, making this the first time the two leaders had no contact. Kyodo said, however, that Kim likely scheduled a same-day return given that China is set to hold the fifth plenary session of its 20th Central Committee on Oct. 26. Foreign media broadly read Kim's failure to meet Xi as not amounting to a snub.
China placed considerable significance on Kim's using the New Yalu River Bridge, which opened Oct. 15. "This visit carries very important significance and contributed to deepening political mutual trust," Wang Huning said. "With the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge as an opportunity, we want to expand people-to-people exchanges and economic and trade cooperation, and bring greater benefits to the peoples of both countries."
Xinhua News Agency said "China is willing to expand economic and trade cooperation with North Korea," while Reuters interpreted the bridge crossing as symbolizing efforts by China and North Korea to expand trade ties.
North Korea, Once Leaning Toward Russia, Turns to China: Kim's Tightrope Diplomacy
Major outlets cited strengthening ties with China as the trip's primary significance. The Financial Times reported that Kim's visit reaffirmed relations with China, a longtime ally, amid growing concerns that North Korea and Russia are drawing closer. It noted that since the Soviet Union's collapse, China has been the Kim Jong-un regime's most important economic ally and has wielded considerable influence over Pyongyang. The New York Times said the visit demonstrated the deepening relationship between the two governments despite strong international sanctions on North Korea. Wang Yi said, "Chairman Kim's visit demonstrates the friendship forged in blood between China and North Korea."
Second, outlets focused on North Korea's balancing strategy. The FT said Kim's decision to send weapons and troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine created a relationship providing him with an alternative source of military and economic support. Peter Ward, a research fellow at the Sejong Institute, told the FT, "Basically China wants to improve ties and keep North Korea from getting too close to Russia," adding that "Kim Jong-un will try to improve relations with China to extract more advantages." Reuters said the visit showed Pyongyang's sophisticated diplomatic balancing act after two years of deepening military ties with Russia.
Third is China's expanding leverage with the United States. President Donald Trump has recently played down expectations for a summit with Kim, and Kim's trip to China lends weight to Beijing's role as a mediator. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post noted that Kim's visit to China was significant given that both Trump and Russia have expressed interest in holding a three-way summit with China. Together with reports last month that China was willing to help arrange a fourth meeting between Trump and Kim, the paper said, the visit reflects Beijing's pursuit of an active role in Korean Peninsula diplomacy.
Japan's Jiji Press assessed that "while Trump has expressed a willingness to meet Kim during his stay in Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November, Kim has firmly established his support for China with this visit."