Kim Jong Un Vows Deeper China Ties After Xi Summit, Boosting Socialist Bloc

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to relentlessly strengthen ties with China, sending a congratulatory message to President Xi Jinping on the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party of China founding. This move, reported by North Korea state-run Korean Central News Agency on July 1, 2026, marks the first such public tribute since 2021 and follows closely on the heels of a rare state visit by Xi Jinping to Pyongyang in early June. Kim's message, which lauded the CPC role in China development and stressed 'socialist solidarity', comes just weeks after a pivotal Pyongyang Summit where both leaders committed to deepening cooperation across political, economic, and cultural spheres. Experts see this as Pyongyang's deliberate effort to institutionalize closer bonds with Beijing amidst a complex global environment, especially as North Korea also cultivates a robust military-strategic partnership with Russia following the Ukraine conflict. China remains North Korea dominant economic partner, accounting for nearly 98 percent of its foreign trade in 2024. This renewed public alignment between two key authoritarian states signals a bolstered front against Western influence and underscores a shared commitment to socialist governance. With the Pyongyang Summit being Xi's first visit to North Korea in seven years, the emphasis on a 'far-reaching blueprint' for bilateral ties suggests a strategic recalibration in the region. The international community will be closely watching for how this deepening alliance impacts regional security, denuclearization efforts on the Korean Peninsula, and the broader balance of power in East Asia.