China's President Xi Jinping is on his first visit to North Korea in seven years. It is also Xi's first international trip this year after hosting key summits with US and Russian leaders.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea next week as Kim Jong Un pushes for an "exponential" expansion of the country's nuclear arsenal and deepens ties with Russia.

The Chinese leader's visit on June 8-9, his first in seven years, comes as Pyongyang strengthens relations with Russia.