Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to make a state visit to North Korea as early as next week.
U.S. news magazine Time reported on May 20, citing anonymous sources, that "China and North Korea will cooperate more closely against Japan's new militarism," adding that plans for Xi's visit are underway.
Time interpreted Xi's potential visit as a response to Japan's shift from its long-standing pacifist stance to a more proactive geopolitical posture.
Recently, Japan has significantly strengthened its security policies, including easing restrictions on arms exports for the first time in 60 years under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and pushing for constitutional amendments to formally recognize the Self-Defense Forces. The country is also increasing its defense budget to record levels and expediting related legislative measures.
However, there has been no official announcement regarding Xi's visit to North Korea yet.
Xi previously visited Pyongyang in June 2019, becoming the first Chinese president to meet with Kim Jong-un for a summit in the North Korean capital.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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