Xi Jinping May Visit North Korea Soon... Preparations Spotted in Pyongyang

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[Financial News] Major foreign media outlets have reported speculation that Chinese President Xi Jinping, who met with the leaders of the United States and Russia last month, may visit North Korea soon. If Xi makes the trip, it would be his first visit since June 2019, or about seven years ago.
In reports on the 4th local time, outlets including Singapore's The Straits Times cited satellite images taken on the 30th of last month by U.S. satellite company Vantor. After analyzing the images, they said a fenced-off area and structures under construction had appeared at Kim Il Sung Square in central Pyongyang. Those features were not visible in satellite images taken a month earlier.
The area had previously held a viewing platform used when Kim Jong Un met Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2024 and later welcomed Republic of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in Pyongyang this year.
The purpose of the construction remains unknown. Chinese authorities have not commented on Xi's travel schedule to North Korea. Xi is not expected to leave China during the visit of Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith from the 2nd to the 6th of this month.
Earlier, U.S.-based North Korea-focused outlet NK News reported on the 29th of last month that satellite images and photos taken by Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan suggested that a large structure, believed to be a reviewing stand, was being installed at Kim Il Sung Square. Based on the satellite images, NK News also said eight Air Koryo aircraft were moved on the 28th and 29th of last month from the terminal's northern apron to other areas across the runway, suggesting that North Korea was preparing to receive a large foreign delegation.
 
pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter