Amid Taiwan invasion prep, Xi Jinping visits nuclear ally: checking Kim's missiles for China war?

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Pyongyang for a landmark summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, marking his first visit to North Korea in seven years. The visit comes at a critical moment for regional security, with tensions over Taiwan, growing military competition in East Asia, and shifting global alliances dominating international headlines. Xi received a grand welcome in Pyongyang, with crowds waving Chinese and North Korean flags as Kim personally hosted the Chinese leader at a state banquet. During the summit, both leaders emphasized the enduring strength of China-North Korea relations, with Kim describing bilateral ties as "unbreakable" despite global uncertainty. What does the Xi-Kim meeting mean for the future of Asia? Could it reshape the strategic landscape surrounding Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, and U.S. influence in the region?