Chinese President Xi Jinping received a pomp-filled welcome as he arrived in Pyongyang on Monday for his first visit to the country in seven years that experts say is likely meant to reassert China's unique influence over North Korea in return for providing economic and political benefits.

Xi Jinping's first visit in nearly seven years comes as Beijing looks to reassert ties with Pyongyang, its only formal treaty ally.

For the first time in seven years, Chinese leader Xi Jinping will visit Pyongyang on June 8 – closely following his separate summits with the U.S. and Russian presidents.