Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first state visit to North Korea in seven years this week presented an opportunity for the allies to showcase the strength of their relationship and the future direction of cooperation after a period of strained ties.

But what was most striking about Xi’s summit with Kim Jong Un was not what they said, but just how much they didn’t.

During two days of ceremonies, concerts and talks, neither leader said a single word about denuclearization, sanctions relief or resolving North Korea's security standoff with Washington, at least according