Xi Jinping meets Kim Jong Un: China’s strategic power play in North Korea | 9 News Australia

In a rare and highly symbolic show of unity, Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on a high-profile state visit to Pyongyang to meet with North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un. This historic meeting marks a critical moment in regional security and global diplomacy, emphasizing the deeply entrenched, yet complex alliance between the two neighboring nations. China remains the only country with which North Korea shares a formal treaty alliance dating back to the early 1960s, a relationship often described metaphorically as being as close as "lips and teeth." To decode the intricate geopolitics behind this meeting, the program is joined by Professor Kerry Brown, a leading expert in Chinese Studies from King's College London. Professor Brown highlights that while North Korea relies heavily on China for its survival—accounting for roughly 99% of its imports, primarily energy, and 83% of its exports—the dynamic is shifting. Kim Jong Un's recent decision to send North Korean troops to support Russia's military campaign against Ukraine introduces a volatile new dimension that likely concerns Beijing, which has historically resisted Russian influence on its doorstep. Furthermore, the discussion unpacks how this visit aligns with China's broader ambition to position Beijing as the ultimate capital of global diplomacy. Having recently hosted high-profile figures including Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and the Iranian Foreign Minister, President Xi is carefully orchestrating a role as a central global mediator. This segment explores how Western powers, particularly the United States, view these developments with skepticism, and whether China can effectively restrain North Korea's nuclear ambitions and aggressive stance toward South Korea. Stream 9News Australia on 9Now and YouTube for comprehensive international breakdowns. | *Subscribe and 🔔: http://9Soci.al/KM6e50GjSK9* *Get more breaking news at 9News.com.au: http://9Soci.al/iyCO50GjSK6* FOLLOW 9News Australia ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/9News/ ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/9NewsAUS ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/9news/ Join 9News for the latest in news and events that affect you in your local city, as well as news from across Australia and the world. #9News #BreakingNews #NineNewsAustralia #9NewsAU