Chinese Premier Li Qiang is set to arrive in Pyongyang this week, marking the most senior Chinese visit to North Korea since 2019. The occasion? The 80th anniversary of the founding of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party—a milestone that’s drawing a host of international dignitaries and signaling shifting dynamics on the Korean Peninsula. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Li will lead a government delegation from October 9 to October 11, underscoring the enduring importance of the relationship between Beijing and Pyongyang.
Li Qiang, who holds the position of No. 2 in China’s political hierarchy as a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, will represent China at a time when President Xi Jinping has scaled back his own foreign travel. As reported by the Associated Press, this visit not only marks Li’s growing role on the international stage but also highlights China’s commitment to maintaining, consolidating, and developing what it describes as “traditional friendship” with North Korea.
The anniversary celebrations are set to be a grand affair, with a military parade in Pyongyang expected on October 10, as noted by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. The parade and surrounding events are more than ceremonial—they provide a rare glimpse into the alliances and power plays shaping Northeast Asia. North Korea’s official news agency, KCNA, reported that Russia is dispatching former President Dmitry Medvedev, now chairman of the United Russia Party, to lead its delegation. Vietnam’s top leader, To Lam, who serves as general secretary of the Communist Party, and Laos’ President Thongloun Sisoulith, also general secretary of his country’s ruling party, are slated to attend as well. For Vietnam, this is the first visit by a top leader to North Korea since 2007, according to Vietnamese state media—a sign of rekindled ties after nearly two decades.
High-level contact between China and North Korea has been ramping up over the past year. Earlier this spring, Zhao Leji, another Politburo Standing Committee member, visited Pyongyang and met with Kim Jong Un. Just last month, Kim himself traveled to Beijing, joining President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II. Reuters reported that this show of unity was widely interpreted as an effort to bolster Kim’s diplomatic standing and reinforce the trilateral ties among North Korea, China, and Russia.
China’s foreign ministry has framed Li’s visit as an opportunity to “strengthen strategic communication, enhance exchanges and cooperation, and promote the continuous development of the traditional friendly and cooperative relations.” In a statement, the ministry emphasized that it is an “unswerving strategic policy” for China to maintain its alliance with North Korea. This language, echoed in multiple news outlets, underscores the calculated approach Beijing is taking—balancing stability on the peninsula with its broader regional ambitions.
North Korea, for its part, has been actively cultivating ties with both China and Russia. According to KCNA and as reported by Reuters, Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory letter to Vladimir Putin on his birthday, stating that the alliance between their countries would “not only contribute to developing bilateral relations but also to establishing a just and multi-polarised world order.” This rhetoric points to Pyongyang’s desire to position itself as a player in a shifting global landscape—one less dominated by Western powers and more defined by strategic partnerships among authoritarian states.
Vietnam’s involvement is also notable. To Lam’s visit, the first by a Vietnamese leader in nearly 20 years, follows his August trip to South Korea, where he was the first foreign guest hosted by President Lee Jae Myung. In a congratulatory letter to the Workers’ Party of Korea, Vietnam’s Communist Party declared, “The Communist Party, state and people of Vietnam always attach importance to the development of the Vietnam-DPRK relations and have the will to develop in the future.” This sentiment, reported by KCNA, signals Hanoi’s intention to play a more active role in Northeast Asian affairs—perhaps as a counterbalance to the influence of larger neighbors.
Laos, too, is sending its president, Thongloun Sisoulith, to the celebrations. As general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, his attendance rounds out a gathering of leaders who are not only political counterparts but also ideological allies. The presence of these leaders at Pyongyang’s anniversary festivities is a vivid display of solidarity among socialist and post-socialist states at a time when global politics are in flux.
South Korea, meanwhile, is watching these developments closely. In a phone call with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun expressed hope that closer relations between North Korea and China would contribute to denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula. As reported by Reuters, Seoul’s stance reflects both cautious optimism and a recognition of the complex realities of regional diplomacy.
The context for these high-level visits is a rapidly changing security environment. North Korea has deepened military cooperation with Russia, even sending troops to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine—a move that has alarmed Western governments and further complicated the prospects for peace on the peninsula. At the same time, Kim Jong Un’s outreach to China and participation in military parades alongside Xi and Putin signal a desire to hedge his bets and maximize North Korea’s leverage.
For China, the visit serves multiple purposes. It’s a chance to reaffirm its influence over Pyongyang, demonstrate leadership in the region, and counterbalance U.S. alliances with South Korea and Japan. For North Korea, the anniversary is more than a celebration—it’s a platform to showcase its diplomatic relevance and reinforce relationships that could prove crucial in the event of future crises.
As the delegations gather in Pyongyang, the world will be watching for signs of what comes next. Will closer ties among China, North Korea, and Russia lead to greater stability, or will they embolden Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions? Can Vietnam and Laos help moderate the region’s tensions, or will their involvement simply reinforce existing alliances? The answers aren’t clear yet, but one thing is certain: the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea is more than a party—it’s a pivotal moment in the evolving story of Northeast Asia.
With leaders converging in Pyongyang and the world’s attention fixed on the Korean Peninsula, the coming days may offer new clues about the future of this complex and consequential region.
