Was Kim Jong-un the real winner from Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea? Niklas Swanström was interviewed by the South China Morning Post
June 17, 2026: Niklas Swanström, ISDP’s Executive Director, was interviewed by the South China Morning Post on the outcome of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea:
“Pyongyang isconsciously separating its external relationships by function. Russia is a military accelerator, China is an economic anchor.”
“The Russia track has delivered battlefield experience, arms co‑development, energy supplies and diplomatic protection through Moscow’s obstruction of UN enforcement mechanisms. This cooperation has materially improved North Korea’s missile, satellite, and drone programmes, something China has been reluctant to enable at scale,” Niklas Swanström said.