North Korea and China spent the last year carefully repairing ties after visible signs of strain, but that doesn’t mean a resurgence of bilateral cooperation is in the cards for 2026.

Leader-level diplomacy resumed, bilateral trade rebounded to multiyear highs and limited cross-border movement restarted. Yet engagement remained highly reversible and appeared to reflect a cautious recalibration at a time when Russia has dominated Pyongyang’s diplomatic portfolio.

While North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to China sent a strong message about alignment against the West, the lack of new formal agreements and announcements about follow-up meetings shows that Beijing