China and North Korea have been allies for decades, but recent events suggest that the relationship is changing. As North Korea deepens its cooperation with Russia, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has moved to reassert Beijing’s influence over Kim Jong Un. Xi’s June 2026 visit to Pyongyang was his first in seven years and came at a time when North Korea’s partnership with Russia is providing Kim with economic, military, and diplomatic benefits that have strengthened his position both at home and abroad.

Why Xi’s Visit Matters

According to reporting from The New York Times and Reuters, Xi’s visit was widely viewed as an effort to remind Kim that China remains North Korea’s most important economic partner and strategic supporter. During the visit, Xi called for “close strategic communication” and stronger exchanges “at all levels and in all fields.” China pledged greater cooperation in trade, agriculture, science, tourism, and health care.

Analysts noted that Xi’s trip was partly driven by concern over North Korea’s increasingly close relationship with Russia. Reuters reported that Xi’s visit was “part of an effort to draw Pyongyang back into its orbit.” The New York Times similarly described the trip as an attempt to balance Russia’s growing influence after Moscow and Pyongyang signed a mutual defense pact in 2024.

North Korea has long sought to avoid becoming overly dependent on any single patron. Support from Russia now gives Kim greater leverage in dealing with Beijing. As Asia Society fellow John Delury observed, “North Korea is certainly gaining economically from what they’re able to provide militarily to Russia.” That new source of support gives Kim greater confidence when negotiating with China.

How North Korea Has Been Helping Russia

North Korea’s assistance to Russia has expanded dramatically since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to assessments cited in the Heritage Foundation study included in the source material, Pyongyang has sent enormous quantities of military supplies to Moscow.

The report estimates that North Korea shipped at least 20,000 containers carrying roughly 8 million artillery shells. Western and Ukrainian intelligence sources assessed that North Korean ammunition accounted for as much as 50 to 60 percent of some Russian artillery usage and nearly one-third of Russian ballistic missile launches. North Korea has also supplied artillery systems, multiple launch rocket systems, and KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles.

Perhaps most significantly, North Korea deployed troops to support Russian operations. South Korean intelligence estimates cited by Reuters indicate that more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to assist Russian forces. Some reports suggest additional troop deployments may follow. Although North Korean units suffered heavy casualties, military analysts note that they have gained valuable combat experience from participating in modern warfare.

Economic Benefits: Oil, Food, and Cash

One of the most immediate benefits North Korea appears to be receiving is economic assistance. The New York Times reported that Russia’s partnership has helped revive North Korea’s economy by allowing Kim to exchange weapons and troops for “badly needed oil, food and weapons technology.”

A study cited in the Heritage Foundation analysis estimated that North Korea’s arms transfers could be worth between $1.7 billion and $5.5 billion. In addition, troop deployments could generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Russia is also believed to have supplied at least one million barrels of oil to North Korea during 2024, according to satellite imagery analysis referenced in the report. These shipments provide a critical source of energy for a country that remains under extensive international sanctions.

Military Technology Transfers

Perhaps the most strategically important benefit involves military technology. South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back stated in October 2025 that North Korea likely received Russian assistance for submarine development. Reuters reported that South Korean intelligence believes North Korea deployed troops “in return for economic and military technology assistance.”

The Heritage Foundation analysis suggests Russia may be providing advanced conventional military technologies rather than its most sensitive nuclear secrets. Areas mentioned include submarine development, reconnaissance satellites, aircraft assembly, radar systems, missile guidance technology, and drone development. South Korean officials have also indicated that Russia may have helped North Korea improve its satellite launch capabilities after Kim’s 2023 summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Reuters specifically noted that North Korea appeared to be receiving “various technologies” related to submarine development. Such assistance could significantly improve Pyongyang’s military capabilities over time.

Combat Experience and Weapons Testing

Another major benefit comes from battlefield experience. North Korea has not participated in a large-scale war since the Korean War. Fighting alongside Russian forces has exposed North Korean troops to drones, electronic warfare, modern artillery operations, and contemporary battlefield tactics. Although the experience has come at a high cost in casualties, it provides valuable lessons for North Korea’s military planners.

The conflict has also served as a testing ground for North Korean weapons. Missiles, artillery systems, and rockets supplied to Russia have been used in actual combat, allowing North Korea to evaluate performance and identify weaknesses. The Heritage Foundation report notes that North Korean missiles showed improved accuracy over time, suggesting that combat experience may already be contributing to weapons improvements.

Diplomatic Protection

Russia has also provided North Korea with important diplomatic support. According to the Heritage Foundation analysis, Moscow and Beijing have increasingly blocked new sanctions efforts against Pyongyang at the United Nations. In 2024, Russia blocked renewal of the U.N. Panel of Experts that monitored sanctions compliance. The report argues that this move eliminated a major mechanism for tracking North Korean sanctions violations and reduced international pressure on Kim’s regime.

A Delicate Balance

The growing Russia-North Korea partnership appears to be one of the main reasons Xi traveled to Pyongyang in 2026. While China, Russia, and North Korea often present a united front against Western pressure, the relationship is more complicated beneath the surface. China wants stability on its border and has traditionally been North Korea’s dominant partner. Russia’s growing role gives Kim additional options and reduces Beijing’s leverage.

Xi’s visit signaled that China does not intend to surrender its influence without a fight. But as long as Russia continues providing economic aid, military technology, diplomatic protection, and battlefield opportunities, Kim Jong Un may find himself in the enviable position of balancing two powerful patrons against one another. That balancing act could become one of the most important strategic stories in Northeast Asia in the years ahead.