Implica

North Korea's Kim vows to deepen ties with China in message to Xi

North Korea’s Kim vows to deepen ties with China in message to XiNorth Korea’s Kim hails ‘unshakeable will’ to develop ties with China’s Xi

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un vowed to deepen economic and political ties with China in a direct message to President Xi Jinping on July 1, 2026.

While Pyongyang has supplied troops and weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, China remains the country's primary economic anchor, accounting for nearly 98% of its foreign trade.

This reaffirmation of the alliance matters as it signals North Korea's continued prioritization of its largest trade partner despite its growing military involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

  • China controls nearly 98% of North Korea's foreign trade, making it the only viable economic lifeline for the isolated nation.
  • North Korea sent troops to Ukraine to fight for Russia, marking a rare instance of direct military deployment abroad.
  • South Korea's Ministry of Economy and Finance tracks the 98% trade figure, highlighting its role as a key observer of inter-Korean economic dynamics.