Xi in Pyongyang: Beijing seeks control over unpredictable ally

Beijing is trying to reassert influence over a strategically vital yet deeply unpredictable partner. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea signals a push to stabilize ties with a neighbor that holds nuclear weapons and shares a long border with China. The trip, the first by a Chinese leader to Pyongyang in 14 years, aims to balance leverage with loyalty. North Korea remains a key buffer state, but its erratic behavior threatens regional stability. By engaging directly, Beijing hopes to steer its ally toward predictability without losing its own strategic footing.