Bonus: Xi Jinping's North Korea visit

Bonus: Xi Jinping's North Korea visit

From Asia Specific by BBC World Service

June 9, 2026 · 11 min

About this episode

The episode discusses Xi Jinping's first visit to North Korea in seven years and the implications of China-North Korea relations amidst the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict.

Having welcomed Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to Beijing, China's leader is making his first overseas trip of this year to North Korea. It's Xi Jinping's first visit to Pyongyang in seven years, and he's visiting a nation bolstered by an increasingly close relationship with Russia, which has seen North Korean troops on the battlefield in Ukraine. Why would a leader used to welcoming foreign dignitaries make the trip to a much smaller neigbour? And what does North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un want from China? Host Mariko Oi is joined by the BBC's China correspondent Laura Bicker and the Seoul correspondent Jake Kwon. This episode was recorded on June 9th. Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people. Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter. Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a…

People in this episode

Host: Mariko Oi

Guests: Laura Bicker, Jake Kwon

Topics covered

  • China-North Korea relations
  • Xi Jinping's visit
  • International diplomacy
  • North Korea's military involvement
  • Asian geopolitical dynamics

Keywords

  • Xi Jinping
  • North Korea
  • China
  • Kim Jong Un
  • Ukraine
  • diplomacy
  • international relations
  • BBC
  • Asia Specific

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC

Places: North Korea, China, Ukraine

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