Kim arrives in Beijing for talks with Xi again

BEIJING: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping that could help set the stage for a second US-North Korea summit, state broadcaster CGTN reported.

A special North Korean train carrying Kim and his wife Ri Sol-ju arrived at a Beijing railway station amid tight security around 10.55am, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

Kim and his delegation were then escorted by Chinese police to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Kim will be in Beijing until tomorrow, according to Chinese media.

This is his fourth visit to China and is being held amid speculation that Kim and US President Donald Trump are discussing a new summit focused on ridding North Korea of its nuclear weapons.

Kim is accompanied by top North Korean officials, including nuclear negotiator Kim Yong-chol, Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho and Defence Minister No Kwang-chol.

Kim is starting his trip on what is believed to be his 35th birthday, Yonhap said.

South Korean media reported earlier that a special train carrying a high-ranking North Korean official had crossed into China on Monday night.

The US and North Korean leaders held a historic summit in Singapore in June last year at which Kim promised to denuclearise.