Why is Xi Jinping going to North Korea?

Friendship or leverage: Why is Xi Jinping going to North Korea? For Chinese leader Xi Jinping, North Korea is the neighbour China can neither control nor afford to lose. The two sides often describe their relationship as one “forged in blood”, a reference to the Korean War. Yet in recent years, mistrust has strained ties. And now Beijing is trying to reassert sway over a strategically vital yet deeply unpredictable partner. China wants stability on its border and influence in Pyongyang, but without being dragged into crises triggered by North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. So Xi’s visit this week is likely…