North Koreans split on Xi Jinping visit rumors as border trade hangs in balance

Rumors of a possible visit to North Korea by Chinese President Xi Jinping are spreading inside the country, stirring a mix of hope and anxiety among border traders and ordinary North Koreans alike, Daily NK has learned.

A Daily NK source in North Pyongan province said Friday that speculation about a Xi visit has been circulating rapidly in Sinuiju and other border areas, driven largely by word of mouth among people working in trade. Because North Korea-China relations directly affect the livelihoods of people living in the border region, the rumors have attracted considerable attention.

Many ordinary North Koreans reportedly welcome the prospect. A Xi visit, in this view, would deepen bilateral ties, accelerate trade, and expand the flow of goods across the border. With official North Korea-China trade already picking up this year, there is broad optimism that an influx of Chinese raw materials and daily necessities would ease economic conditions for many people.

“Among the general public, there is hope that better relations with China will stabilize prices,” the source said. “People who do business especially are eager to see North Korea-China relations develop further.”

Traders weigh costs against potential gains

Not everyone is optimistic. Workers at foreign currency-earning enterprises and those engaged in smuggling are watching developments with unease. China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has maintained pressure on North Korea through export and import controls and crackdowns on smuggling as part of its implementation of U.N. sanctions. Traders fear unexpected new restrictions could follow any diplomatic movement.

Their concern is compounded by the outcome of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to China from May 13 to 15. Following the summit, Beijing reportedly asked Pyongyang to cooperate in cracking down on unofficial border transactions. Some traders in border-linked enterprises have raised concerns that informal trade channels could be shut down entirely, further tightening an already cautious border environment.

“Traders are most worried about the possibility of tighter controls,” the source said. “There is concern that Xi, having met with Trump, may arrive carrying a mediation proposal — and if that proposal irritates the top leadership, the fallout will be felt by those doing business below.”

The sector hit hardest by Chinese border enforcement has been the informal import-export trade, which explains why those working in it cannot simply treat rumors of a Xi visit as good news.

“Ordinary people think simply: if Xi comes, relations improve, Chinese goods flow in, and business conditions get better,” the source said. “But traders are also alert to the possibility of relations souring and border controls tightening. The difference in how people are reading these rumors could not be more stark.”

When Xi last visited

The possibility of a Xi visit has drawn attention internationally as well. On May 20, the American newsmagazine Time, citing anonymous sources, reported that Xi could visit North Korea the following week. As of May 29, however, no such visit has materialized. The Chinese government has not publicly clarified its position, and North Korea has made no mention of the matter.

Should the visit take place, it would be Xi’s first trip to North Korea since June 2019, a seven-year gap. In the 2019 visit, both governments issued official announcements in advance. Observers note that if a visit is indeed being planned, a formal announcement would likely precede it.

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