Why Xi Jinping visited the North Korean school that trains future officials



Analysis Why Xi Jinping visited the North Korean school that trains future officials China looks to influence cadres who will one day run DPRK state, but Kim Jong Un appears confident in his grip on power Gabriella Wangmu Zhaxi June 29, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping shake hands after planting a tree at North Korea's cadre training school \| Image: KCNA Chinese President Xi Jinping’s trip to North Korea this month featured all the hallmarks of a state visit, from Kim Jong Un’s greeting on the airport tarmac and a welcome ceremony in central Pyongyang to summit talks, a state dinner and a cultural performance. But amid all the pageantry, a curious stop at the DPRK’s party cadre school flew under the radar, despite offering insights into each sides’ priorities. On June 9, Xi and Kim took a tour of the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Cadres Training School, with most analysts seeing it Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01All the missiles and weapons at North Korea’s new ‘defense revolution’ museum 02Why the inter-Korean border remains unmarked, despite military risks 03How the DMZ blasts unfolded, from mine laying to North Korean denials 04North Korean TV airs outdated map laying claim to South Korean border islands 05How North Korea’s newest ‘hypersonic’ missile could foil adversary defenses 06Crossing the Yalu: Why China and North Korea want to open long-stalled bridge 07A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality 08Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records 09Likely Russian ship docks in North Korea’s Rason port for first time since May 10Trump doesn’t need a grand deal with Kim, but rather small coordinated actions

Analysis

Why Xi Jinping visited the North Korean school that trains future officials

China looks to influence cadres who will one day run DPRK state, but Kim Jong Un appears confident in his grip on power

Gabriella Wangmu Zhaxi June 29, 2026

Why Xi Jinping visited the North Korean school that trains future officials

Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping shake hands after planting a tree at North Korea's cadre training school | Image: KCNA

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s trip to North Korea this month featured all the hallmarks of a state visit, from Kim Jong Un’s greeting on the airport tarmac and a welcome ceremony in central Pyongyang to summit talks, a state dinner and a cultural performance.

But amid all the pageantry, a curious stop at the DPRK’s party cadre school flew under the radar, despite offering insights into each sides’ priorities.

On June 9, Xi and Kim took a tour of the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Cadres Training School, with most analysts seeing it

01All the missiles and weapons at North Korea’s new ‘defense revolution’ museum
02Why the inter-Korean border remains unmarked, despite military risks
03How the DMZ blasts unfolded, from mine laying to North Korean denials
04North Korean TV airs outdated map laying claim to South Korean border islands
05How North Korea’s newest ‘hypersonic’ missile could foil adversary defenses
06Crossing the Yalu: Why China and North Korea want to open long-stalled bridge
07A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality
08Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records
09Likely Russian ship docks in North Korea’s Rason port for first time since May
10Trump doesn’t need a grand deal with Kim, but rather small coordinated actions

Why Xi Jinping visited the North Korean school that trains future officials

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Gabriella Wangmu Zhaxi