Pakistan, June 7 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pyongyang on Monday in a visit that highlights strengthening ties between the two neighbors. The summit comes as Kim projects growing confidence, backed by an expanding nuclear arsenal, closer relations with Russia and limited interest in renewed engagement with the United States.

For Xi, the two-day visit marks his first trip to North Korea in seven years and reflects Beijing's efforts to strengthen its influence in Pyongyang. The meeting follows a period of increased diplomatic contact, including high-level exchanges and the gradual restoration of passenger rail and air services between the two countries.

Since Xi's previous visit in ...