Xi to Visit North Korea Amid Deepening Russia Ties
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- Xi Jinping plans an upcoming visit to North Korea, a trip described as delicate and difficult.
- North Korea announced its nuclear program is “irreversible.”
- North Korea has obtained Russian technology that enabled a strategic leap in its missile and nuclear capabilities.
- South Korea is alarmed by North Korea’s enhanced capabilities, prompting a rearmament race that includes Japan.
- China faces a political burden as the deepened North Korea‑Russia bond threatens its influence in Russia.
Why it matters: China’s influence is at risk as North Korea’s Russian‑backed nuclear boost spurs a South Korea‑Japan arms race and deepens a bond that burdens Beijing’s political leverage in Russia.
