China, North Korea Deepen Ties Against U.S. Hegemony

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met in Beijing and agreed to deepen bilateral ties while jointly opposing “hegemonism” and “unilateralism,” language aimed at the United States. Beijing's readout said it would strengthen coordination with Pyongyang in regional and international affairs to safeguard common interests and “international fairness and justice,” and Choe said North Korea was willing to cooperate in multilateral forums. The talks follow Kim Jong Un’s recent trip to Beijing, where he met Xi Jinping and attended a major military parade, a visit that signaled a warming of ties after earlier speculation of a rift. China’s official statement made no reference to North Korean denuclearization, and Pyongyang reiterated conditions for resuming talks with Washington even as U.S. leaders have at times indicated willingness to meet. The growing Beijing–Pyongyang alignment has implications for regional diplomacy, including the upcoming APEC 2025 summit in South Korea, where U.S., Chinese and possibly Russian participation could test Seoul’s role as a mediator.