North Korea is expected to provide the highest level of protocol for Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is visiting the country for the first time in seven years, showcasing the enduring North Korea-China alliance to the international community.
The International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China announced on June 5 that Xi, who is also the General Secretary of the Communist Party, will visit North Korea as a state guest from June 8 to 9 at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission.
While the detailed schedule has not been disclosed, the visit comes ahead of the 65th anniversary of the signing of the North Korea-China Mutual Cooperation and Assistance Treaty on July 11, suggesting that North Korea will emphasize the significance of the relationship during Xi's visit.
Historically, Kim has welcomed visiting leaders at the airport, and it is highly likely he will greet Xi at Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport on June 8. In June 2019, Kim and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, welcomed Xi at the airport, and in June 2024, he personally greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin, who arrived late at night.
Official welcome ceremonies are expected to include a gun salute, the playing of national anthems, and a review by the People's Army honor guard. Following the airport reception, Kim and Xi are anticipated to ride in an open-top vehicle through Pyongyang, receiving a warm welcome from large crowds.
Kim Il Sung Square is likely to be the site of the official welcome ceremony. During Putin's visit in June 2024, the airport reception was simplified due to an early morning arrival, but a large-scale welcome ceremony was held at Kim Il Sung Square later that day. Recent reports from international media, including Bloomberg, indicate that North Korea is preparing for Xi's welcome event at this location.
There is also a possibility that a welcome event could take place at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are preserved. Xi was the first foreign leader to receive a welcome there during his 2019 visit, emphasizing the traditional friendship between North Korea and China.
Given the short duration of the visit, a summit between the two leaders is likely to occur on the day of Xi's arrival in Pyongyang. They are expected to discuss ways to enhance North Korea-China relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Following the summit, a welcome dinner and a commemorative performance are anticipated. Key members of North Korea's leadership, including Kim Yo Jong, the head of the Workers' Party Organization and Guidance Department, are expected to attend the dinner.
During Xi's first visit in 2019, he attended a mass gymnastics and artistic performance at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang with Kim and his wife. North Korea staged a special performance themed on North Korea-China friendship to coincide with Xi's visit.
Xi's itinerary may also include a visit to the Friendship Tower in Pyongyang. Built in 1959, the tower commemorates the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's participation in the Korean War and is a customary stop for high-ranking Chinese officials visiting North Korea. Xi visited the tower during his 2019 trip to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Xi is likely to stay at the Kumsusan State Guest House, where he lodged during his first visit. The Kumsusan State Guest House is North Korea's premier state guest accommodation. Recently, NK News reported that North Korea has significantly expanded its capacity to host foreign guests by constructing large-scale lodging facilities within the Kumsusan complex.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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