Xi to make June 8-9 North Korea trip, first in nearly 7 years

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea on June 8 and 9, his first trip there since 2019 and his first overseas travel of the year. The visit comes as Beijing pushes to rebuild influence with Pyongyang after pandemic-era disruption and as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has strengthened ties with Russia by sending troops and weapons to support the war in Ukraine. Xi last visited North Korea in 2019 with full military honors. Passenger rail service between Beijing and Pyongyang resumed in March after a six-year halt, and Air China later restarted flights, though travel remains limited mainly to business travelers and exchange students.