The British government is closely watching a rare summit between President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, where the two allies are expected to deepen ties amid growing economic strain on ordinary citizens. For the workers in the North of England who still remember the struggles of the coal miners, shifts in global power can feel distant. But the cost of bread at the local shop is tied to these diplomatic manoeuvres.
Xi’s visit, the first to North Korea in 14 years, comes as the Kim regime faces tightening sanctions and a faltering economy. The UK’s Foreign Office has expressed concerns about regional stability, but for the families in Rotherham or Burnley, the real question is how these alliances affect the price of heating and food. Union leaders have long argued that foreign policy should not be a playground for elites.
As the two leaders meet, the ripple effects on global trade, energy prices, and ultimately the kitchen table economy, are what matter. The British government should ensure that our own workers do not bear the cost of this new alignment.
