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Why Xi is Visiting North Korea Now
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Why Xi is Visiting North Korea Now
Xi Jinping just made a rare visit to North Korea.
He wants to pull Kim Jong Un back to China.
China fears North Korea is getting too close to Russia.
Kim recently sent 10,000 soldiers to help Russia's war.
Xi wants to remind Kim who his real boss is.
China handles 95 percent of all North Korean trade.
This trade is worth about 2.7 billion dollars.
North Korea needs China for food, oil, and medicine.
For Xi, North Korea is a strategic buffer zone.
It keeps U.S. troops away from China's own border.
There are 28,500 U.S. soldiers in South Korea now.
Xi also promised to help North Korea modernize.
Russia gives Kim weapons, but China gives him survival.
Beijing will not let its junior ally drift away.
This visit marks a new starting point for them.
Quiz 🧠
Q1. A country that gets almost all its food and fuel from one neighbor depends heavily on that neighbor.
Show answer
✅ True
When a country buys most of its vital supplies from one place, it relies on that neighbor to survive.
Q2. What does 'drift away' mean in 'drift away from a friend'?
Show answer
✅ become less close
To 'drift away' means to slowly grow distant or lose a close connection over time.
Q3. Why does China want to keep North Korea as a friendly buffer state?
Show answer
✅ To keep U.S. troops away
North Korea sits between China and thousands of American soldiers stationed in South Korea.
Dialogue 🎧
Michael: Did you see that President Xi is visiting North Korea? It is very rare.
Olivia: I did. He wants to pull Kim Jong Un back to China immediately.
Michael: Wait, why does he need to pull him back? Are they not close?
Olivia: China fears North Korea is getting too close to Russia. They are worried.
Michael: Is that because Kim sent 10,000 soldiers to help Russia's war? That is wild.
Olivia: Exactly. Xi wants to remind Kim who his real boss is right now.
Michael: That sounds very dramatic. Does China really have that much power over them?
Olivia: They do. China handles 95 percent of all North Korean trade.
Michael: Wait, 95 percent? That is an incredible amount of trade.
Olivia: It is worth about 2.7 billion dollars. North Korea needs it for survival.
Michael: What kind of things do they get from China? Is it just weapons?
Olivia: No, they need food, oil, and medicine. Russia gives weapons, but China gives survival.
Michael: So without China, North Korea would be in serious trouble?
Olivia: Definitely. Beijing will not let its junior ally drift away to Russia.
Michael: But why is North Korea so important for China’s strategy?
Olivia: It is a strategic buffer zone. It keeps U.S. troops away from China's border.
Michael: Wait, are there really U.S. troops right there on the border?
Olivia: There are 28,500 U.S. soldiers in South Korea now. That is very close.
Michael: I didn't realize there were so many. That explains a lot.
Olivia: Yes. Xi even promised to help North Korea modernize their country.
Michael: So this visit is about more than just Russia?
Olivia: It is about security. They want to strengthen their friendship treaty again.
Michael: It sounds like a new starting point for both of them.
Olivia: It really is. Xi is making sure his rare visit counts.