Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits North Korea amid US-China tensions

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting North Korea on April 9-10, 2026, according to North Korea's state media KCNA and confirmed by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. The two-day diplomatic visit comes shortly before a scheduled US-China summit, suggesting Beijing may be coordinating regional strategy with Pyongyang. This visit signals China's effort to maintain influence over North Korea while managing broader great-power competition with the United States. The timing underscores how North Korea remains a critical node in US-China strategic calculations.