Kim Jong Un feted Chinese President Xi Jinping with two days of lavish celebrations in Pyongyang, calling ties with China a “top priority” in a clear message that Beijing, not Moscow, remains North Korea’s most important partner.

Kim’s description of the relationship as “the most important top-priority strategic work” goes beyond standard rhetoric, signaling his recalibration back toward China after years of drawing closer to Moscow. It was the first time the North Korean leader said that to Xi, even as Kim has referred to Putin as his “dearest friend.”

Kim rolled out the red carpet for the Chinese leader’s first visit to the North Korean capital in seven years. In a clear sign the communist neighbors are broadening bilateral ties, the two leaders vowed to expand cooperation in trade, tourism and technology cooperation alongside deeper diplomatic and military ties.

“Russia is already in its corner, along with several of Russia’s close network of friends and partners,” said Jenny Town, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center. “Adding high-level relations with China back into the mix really underscores Kim Jong Un’s rising profile.”

Beijing has long been North Korea’s primary backer, providing crucial economic lifelines as the U.S. and its allies upheld sanctions against the isolated regime. But their ties had chilled as Kim courted Moscow, vowing to “unconditionally support” Russian President Vladimir Putin and sending North Korean troops to help his war against Ukraine.

Kim’s tilt toward China comes as U.S.-led efforts to broker peace in Ukraine remain deadlocked, while Russian forces suffer mounting losses amid a stalemate on the battlefield.

While official media said 250,000 people lined the streets of Pyongyang to greet Xi during his 2019 visit, no comparable figure for public turnout was provided this time. Although that trip stood out for marking the first by a Chinese leader in 14 years and the 70th anniversary of ties, considerable effort was made to honor Kim’s guest this week.

Photos provided by North Korean state media show massive side-by-side portraits of the two leaders towering over Kim Il Sung Square at Monday’s welcome ceremony. In the evening, Xi and his wife in a rare public display both wore glasses as they watched a cultural show featuring well-known Chinese songs and elaborate acrobatic stunts beside Kim.

On the second day of the trip, Xi and Kim, together with their wives, visited a friendship monument honoring the Chinese soldiers who died fighting alongside North Korean troops during the 1950-53 Korean War. The stop served as a symbolic reminder of North Korea’s unique position as China’s sole formal military ally under a mutual defense pact marking its 65th anniversary this year.

Kim’s teenage daughter, Ju Ae, who has taken on a higher profile in recent years, didn’t appear to be part of the festivities.

“For Kim, the optimal scenario is to enjoy strong ties with both Beijing and Moscow, without becoming locked into a trilateral grouping as the much smaller power,” said John Delury, a senior fellow at the Asia Society.

The meeting marked the first time military cooperation between China and North Korea was explicitly raised at a summit level since Kim Jong Un came to power, according to Yonhap News. The Chinese delegation included Defense Minister Dong Jun, a notable addition given that his predecessor did not join Xi’s 2019 trip.

While the exact scope of military cooperation remains unclear, North Korea has been ramping up its weapons development, with Kim showcasing a new nuclear materials production facility just days before Xi’s arrival.

“The PRC and DPRK do very little in terms of actual military cooperation and it would be surprising to see that developing, even out of a ‘successful’ summit,” Delury said, referring to the two countries by their acronyms.

Expanding the bilateral relationship to tourism potentially offers Kim a ready source of cash. While tourism — one of the few sectors not restricted by sanctions — has long supported Kim’s regime, the country has been allowing only a trickle of inbound tourists, mostly from Russia. But the flow of visitors may increase with the recent move to resume bilateral flights and passenger train operations.

Xi’s visit highlights Kim’s ascent from an isolated leader to a shrewd geopolitical player.

The North Korean leader appeared to have cemented a major concession over nuclear weapons. China’s top leader skipped any public mention of denuclearization — a long-standing Chinese policy goal and the main message of his 2019 trip. That language has been missing from official Chinese statements since Kim visited Beijing in September, fueling speculation that China has tacitly accepted North Korea as a de facto nuclear power.

Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, said China is “quietly moving away from” talks of denuclearization even though it hasn’t given up on that objective.

“China is moving denuclearization to a future endgame rather than a practical goal in the foreseeable future,” she said. “Straightforward effort to denuclearize North Korea as a policy goal only creates hostility, and it will not achieve the goal of denuclearization anyway.”

When asked whether Beijing is still pushing for denuclearization, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Monday said “China maintains continuity and consistency over its position and policy on the Korean Peninsula issue.”

At a press conference in Seoul held just as Xi landed in Pyongyang, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said de-nuclearization is a goal that cannot be abandoned, warning of a nuclear domino effect.

Lee has sought to balance South Korea’s ties with China and the U.S. since taking office last year, a departure from his predecessor’s focus on putting the U.S. first. It remains unclear how much these efforts — especially Seoul’s bids for Beijing’s help in resuming dialogue with North Korea — will translate into tangible results, given that Xi and Kim appear focused on strengthening their own relationship.

“China and Russia’s support for North Korea, not conditioned on de-nuclearization, leaves Pyongyang with little need or incentive to engage with Seoul,” said Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

—With assistance from Heesu Lee, Cat Barton and Josh Xiao.

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