A few days earlier, the South Korean Yonhap agency reported about Xi Jinping's possible visit to North Korea. She recalled that this year both countries were celebrating the 65th anniversary of signing a comprehensive cooperation treaty. The Chinese leader was scheduled to visit Pyongyang in late May or early June – no specific date was given. “An independent government source said that the Chinese leader may mediate relations between North Korea and the United States,” reports Yonhap news agency. Tension is growing in North Korea over these reports.
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North Korea. Concern among traders on the border with China
According to the Daily NK website, various rumors about the possible effects of Xi's visit are circulating among border traders who trade between North Korea and China. The mood is divided. According to “ordinary” Koreans, the arrival of the Chinese leader may contribute to deepening mutual relations between the countries and expand the flow of goods across the border. “There is hope among the general public that better relations with China will stabilize prices,” a source told Daily NK. However, he adds that “not everyone is optimistic.”
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Many traders are concerned that new restrictions could appear after such an important diplomatic step. The portal reminds that China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, maintains pressure on North Korea through export and import controls and repression of smuggling as part of the implementation of UN sanctions. The most vulnerable is informal trade, which thrives on the border with China. Some Koreans fear that such trade channels could be closed completely.
“Traders are most concerned about the possibility of tighter controls,” the source said.
If the visit takes place, it will be the first time since June 2019, i.e. after a seven-year break. During the 2019 visit, both governments issued official statements in advance. Now, neither China nor North Korea has confirmed the media reports so far. In 2025, Xi and Kim Jong Un met in Beijing.
