Xi, Kim Hold Summit at Pyongyang's Kumsusan State Guest House, People's Daily Says

Chinese President Xi Jinping began summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a state visit to Pyongyang.

The People's Daily, the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, reported at 5:05 p.m. Beijing time on June 8, or 6:05 p.m. in South Korea, that the two leaders were holding talks at Pyongyang's Kumsusan State Guest House.

The summit is set to focus on restoring North Korea-China ties, which have cooled somewhat as Pyongyang has drawn closer to Russia. The two leaders are also expected to discuss expanding economic cooperation and issues affecting Northeast Asia, including the Korean Peninsula.

Xi departed Beijing on the morning of June 8 aboard a special plane with his wife, Peng Liyuan, and arrived at Pyongyang airport around noon. He was greeted there by Kim and his wife.

Xi later attended a welcome ceremony at Kim Il Sung Square, then traveled with Kim and their spouses to the Kumsusan State Guest House, where the talks began.

Xi's visit to North Korea is his first since 2019. It also marks the first face-to-face meeting between the Chinese and North Korean leaders in nine months, since Kim visited Beijing in September 2025 to attend events marking the 80th anniversary of China's victory in the war.

Lee Jeong-woo, Hankyung.com reporter, krse9059@hankyung.com