Two days before Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea, China began highlighting the tightening North Korea-China alignment and launched a large-scale campaign to create a friendly mood. After the Chinese ambassador to North Korea reaffirmed the strategic value the two countries hold through state media, Russia also praised the North Korean leader. The North Korea-China-Russia alignment around the Korean Peninsula is again coming into sharp relief.
Summarizing reports by major outlets including Xinhua on the 6th local time, Wang Yajun, China's ambassador to North Korea, said in a contributed article in the People's Daily that "the two leaders will hold an important historic meeting, set the direction to carry forward a new chapter in China-North Korea relations in the new era, and draw a blueprint." Citing again the phrase Xi used to define bilateral ties in the past—"good neighbors, good friends, good comrades"—Ambassador Wang stressed that this state visit will bring about greater development in North Korea-China relations.
China's state media also joined the publicity push in unison. Xinhua said in a commentary, "Pyongyang in June is brimming with vitality, and everywhere is filled with eager anticipation for the visit of distinguished Chinese guests," reporting that the trip will inject new contemporary significance into traditional friendship. The phenomenon of a top Chinese leadership figure publishing a column two days before Xi's visit, echoed by state media, is seen as a move to solidify North Korea-China unity in light of the rapidly warming North Korea-Russia ties.
Earlier, the North Korean and Chinese authorities announced that at the invitation of Kim Jong-un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, Xi will make a state visit to North Korea for two days from the 8th to the 9th. This state visit will be Xi's first trip to North Korea in seven years and his first overseas tour this year. The international community expects the two leaders to place significant weight on discussions about expanding economic cooperation and joint responses to the United States.
Russia also showcased its solid unity with North Korea. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin Spokesperson, when asked about Chairperson Kim's visit on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, replied, "He is always a welcome guest here." On the specific timing of a visit to Russia, he drew a line, saying, "There is nothing agreed regarding that," but reaffirmed the Russian government's favorable stance toward Kim. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a visit to Russia to Chairperson Kim right after their summit in Pyongyang in June 2024. He also conveyed the same invitation when the three leaders gathered together with Xi at Beijing's Tiananmen during the 80th anniversary China's Victory Day military parade in September 2025.