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Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on the 8th to begin a two-day visit to North Korea, which rolled out a "super-premium" reception for him. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un greeted Xi at the airport in person, followed by a large-scale welcoming ceremony at Kim Il-sung Square. Kim Ju-ae was not seen on this day, but attention is focused on whether she might appear at official events before Xi's return on the 9th.
According to China's Xinhua News Agency and other outlets, the Air China jet carrying Xi arrived in Pyongyang around noon. North Korean military honor guards lined up on both sides of the red carpet welcoming Xi. Footage released by Xinhua also showed North Korean escort forces riding white motorcycles. Across the airport, North Korean and Chinese flags were displayed alongside welcoming messages in Korean and Chinese, such as "We warmly welcome Comrade Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China" and "Long live the invincible friendship and unity between the peoples of North Korea and China."
Kim and his wife Ri Sol-ju came out to the runway in person to greet Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan as they disembarked from the jet. Both Xi and Kim smiled warmly as they shook hands. However, neither Kim's daughter Ju-ae nor his sister Kim Yo-jong, director of the party's General Affairs Department, was seen at the airport.
The two leaders then moved to Kim Il-sung Square in central Pyongyang for a ceremony welcoming Xi's state visit. The square featured large portraits of Kim and Xi, along with banners in Korean and Chinese reading "Eternal friendship between North Korea and China" and "Long live the unbreakable friendship and unity between North Korea and China." As the two couples ascended the review platform, the North Korean military band played both countries' national anthems before firing a 21-gun salute. Pyongyang citizens welcomed Xi holding flags, flowers, and balloons.
After the North Korea-China summit concluded, a state dinner followed at Pyongyang's Mokran House. Along the route to Mokran House, Pyongyang citizens lined the roadside, waving at the motorcade carrying Xi and Peng. When Xi and his wife entered the Mokran House banquet hall, guided by Kim and his wife, all attendees stood up to welcome them. In his pre-dinner congratulatory remarks, Xi said, "During this visit, I formed an important consensus with Chairman Kim."
Meanwhile, attention is also focused on whether Ju-ae will officially meet Xi during the event. If Ju-ae meets the top leader of China, North Korea's largest blood ally in the socialist bloc, it could leave the impression at home and abroad that she is the official successor. Kim himself met with the Chinese leadership before being officially designated as successor. However, given that Xi may feel burdened by endorsing North Korea's "fourth-generation hereditary succession," there is also the possibility that Ju-ae will not appear in person or that any meeting will be held in private.
