Kim seeks Xi's support ahead of meeting with US President

BEIJING: Bracing for an unprecedented meeting with US President Donald Trump, North Korea's reclusive dictator Kim Jong-un made a secret trip to Beijing to seek Chinese President Xi Jinping's backing while pledging support for denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

After day-long silence on Tuesday, China on Wednesday acknowledged Kim's visit apparently after his bullet proof green and yellow train, by which he travelled, left China's borders and entered North Korea.

Kim paid a four-day "unofficial visit" to Beijing from Sunday to Wednesday - his first journey abroad since taking power in 2011 and his first reported meeting with a foreign head of state -- at the invitation of Xi, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

During his visit, which was kept under wraps, Kim held talks with Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcoming banquet for Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju and watched an art performance together, the report said.

Premier Li Keqiang, Vice President Wang Qishan and other top leaders of the ruling Chinese Communist Party of China (CPC) attended related activities, respectively, it said.

But the key takeaways from the young mercurial dictator's first overseas visit to China, North Korea's decades old closest ally, was apparently to meet Xi, with whom he shared fractious relationship, before his proposed meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in next month and Trump in May.

China, a key broker pushing for six-party talks between US, North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan and Russia, was on tenterhooks as Kim began directly responding to the overtures of South Korea and Trump himself in an apparent snub to Beijing for tightening the UN sanctions by halting the supplies of oil, coal and other essentials under pressure from Trump.

Kim raised eyebrows in China when he refused to meet Xi's special envoy Song Tao few months ago.

But with Xi himself emerging more powerful this month after the removal of the twoterm presidential limit paving the way for his life long rule, Kim made the surprise visit to Beijing to address China's concern and restoring primacy of Beijing's as an important player in North Korean peace process.

During his trip, Kim heaped praise on Xi saying the Chinese leader enjoyed the support of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and the people of the whole country.

Xinhua quoted Kim as saying that it is his obligation to come to congratulate Xi in person, in line with the North Korea-china friendly tradition.

At present, the Korean Peninsula situation is developing rapidly and many important changes have taken place, Kim said, adding that he felt he should come in time to inform Xi in person the situation out of comradeship and moral responsibility.

Kim said his country is determined to transform the inter-korean ties into a relationship of reconciliation and cooperation and hold summit between the heads of the two sides.

The DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) is willing to have dialogue with the US and hold a summit of the two countries, he said.

"The issue of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if south Korea and the US respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realization of peace," Kim told Xi. The DPRK hopes to enhance strategic communication with China during the process, jointly safeguard the trend of consultation and dialogue as well as peace and stability on the peninsula, he said.

Xi said that positive changes had taken place on the Korean Peninsula since this year, and China appreciates the important efforts made by the DPRK.

On the Korean Peninsula issue, Xi said that China sticks to the goal of denuclearisation of the peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula and solving problems through dialogue and consultation.

Kim said that as the situation of the Korean Peninsula is undergoing unprecedented changes, he paid a swift visit to China, out of good wishes for promoting peace and stability on the peninsula, and carrying on and developing the DPRKCHINA friendship.

He said the fact that he chose China as the destination of his first overseas visit showed his will to carry forward the tradition of DPRKChina friendship, and how he valued the friendship between the two countries.

"I have had successful talks with General Secretary Xi Jinping on developing relations between the two parties and the two countries, our respective domestic situation, maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and other issues," he said. WASHINGTON: The United States continues to move forward on the proposed summit meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the White House has said.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders on Tuesday told reporters that preparations were on for the summit, which has been accepted by Trump at the request of Pyongyang.

"We are continuing to move forward. The offer was extended and accepted, and were continuing to move forward in that process. We still don't have a set time or date on that front," Sanders said in response to a question. State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert had more or less a similar statement to offer during a news conference. "We continue to proceed with our planning to go ahead for a summit between the United States and the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea). This is something that President Trump and the Republic of Korea had talked about not too long ago. We are going ahead and we are planning that," she said.

Nauert said the State Department was planning the meeting in coordination with the NSC the National Security Council and other US Government agencies and departments.

"It's a big task, certainly, pulling off any kind of summit like this. The NSC is the main coordinator of it, and the State Department is providing any assistance that is needed," Nauert said. WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump, who has agreed to meet with Kim Jong Un, said on Wednesday there is a now a good chance the North Korean leader will give up his country's nuclear weapons.

"For years and through many administrations, everyone said that peace and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was not even a small possibility," Trump wrote in an early morning tweet. "Now there is a good chance that Kim Jong Un will do what is right for his people and for humanity. Look forward to our meeting!," Trump added.

His comments came as Kim completed a secretive and unprecedented visit to Beijing on Wednesday as the two countries seek to repair frayed ties before Pyongyang's landmark summits with Washington and earlier with South Korea.

On his first trip abroad since taking power, Kim and his wife were greeted by an honor guard and a banquet hosted by President Xi Jinping, according to state media, which confirmed the three-day visit on Wednesday only after Kim had returned by train to North Korea.

The two men held talks at the Great Hall of the People and Kim pledged he was "committed to denuclearization" on the Korean peninsula, according to China's Xinhua news agency.

Kim also expressed willingness to hold the summits with Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, it said.

Analysts said Xi likely wanted to see Kim in order to ensure North Korea does not cut a deal with Trump that hurts Chinese interests during their summit, expected to be held in May.