North Korean leader Kim Jong Un makes surprise visit to China
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping have held talks in Beijing on Kim's first foreign trip since taking power.
Xinhua News Agency officially confirmed this morning (March 28) that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had made a surprise visit to China. Accordingly, from March 25-28, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paid an unofficial visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.
|
| North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: Xinhua |
During his visit, Kim Jong Un held talks with Xi Jinping, Xinhua added. According to South Korea's KBS, citing the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the talks between the two leaders took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The report said Mr. Kim told Mr. Xi that the two countries need to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation, by increasing meetings between officials of the two sides and consolidating bilateral strategic cooperation.
|
| Kim Jong Un and his wife took a photo with Xi Jinping and his wife. Photo: Xinhua |
The South Korean presidential office also confirmed the visit. President Moon Jae-in's press secretary, Yoon Young-chan, said Seoul had been informed by China about Kim's visit.
This is the first announced foreign trip by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un since he took power in 2011. Analysts say the move is to prepare for upcoming summits with South Korean leaders in late April, and with the US in May.
|
| Scene of the talks between the two leaders of North Korea and China. Photo: Xinhua |
Earlier, the US television channel CNN reported this morning, March 27, that an old-fashioned train believed to be carrying North Korean leaders had left North Korea for China. This sparked rumors that Kim Jong Un was visiting Beijing. However, in an interview with reporters at the time, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it was "unaware of the incident."
