China and North Korea are drawing closer together once again: Head of State Xi Jinping has arrived in Pyongyang for his first visit in seven years. Xi's primary goal there is likely to secure his influence over North Korea—first and foremost as a counterweight to Russia. For North Korea, China is the most important trading partner, supporting the largely internationally isolated neighbor diplomatically, economically, and politically.

The visit comes at a time of growing tensions: North Korea continues to reject nuclear disarmament and has recently significantly expanded its cooperation with Russia. What interests are Xi and Kim pursuing? And what does this rapprochement mean for Russia, the region, and the West? Christina von Ungern-Sternberg discusses this on ZDFheute live with ZDF correspondent Miriam Steimer in Beijing and East Asian Studies expert Prof. Rüdiger Frank.

You can access the live coverage and interview here: LINK.