What To Know as China’s Xi Jinping Heads to North Korea

As Xi Jinping visits Pyongyang, he faces an emboldened North Korean dictator, whose alliance with Russia has reduced his dependence on China.Xi Jinping, China’s leader, with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, in Beijing in September. Analysts say China is likely keen to assert its influence over North Korea as Pyongyang has leaned toward Russia.