Hopes for summit rise as Kim reportedly visits China
CHINA: Kim Jong Un is believed to have arrived on a surprise visit to Beijing, his first known trip outside North Korea since taking power, just weeks after United States President Trump agreed to grant him an unprecedented meeting.
Rumours about a visit by highranking North Korean officials swirled through Beijing after a green train with yellow stripes, resembling that used by Kim’s late father, was seen arriving in the Chinese capital. The train’s appearance coincided with a notice announcing the delay of trains leaving Beijing.
Bloomberg news agency later reported that Kim was on board the train, citing officials with knowledge of the visit.
The trip, once confirmed, could signal Beijing’s re-emergence as a force in talks to denuclearise the Korean peninsula after the waning of its influence since Kim took power.
Trump has repeatedly urged China to take a tougher line in persuading North Korea to surrender its nuclear weapons. China, however, has had limited success in even talking to North Korea.
In November a Chinese envoy sent to Pyongyang failed to secure a face-to-face meeting with Kim, reflecting the chilled state of relations between the two countries.
Beijing found itself usurped by South Korea, which scored a diplomatic breakthrough by inviting North Korea to the Winter Olympics and for North-south talks. South Korean officials then told Washington that Kim was willing to discuss giving up his nuclear weapons, prompting Trump to grant him a meeting.
It is not yet known when or where the potential summit would take place but Kim is expected to meet Moon Jae In, the president of South Korea, somewhere near their shared border next month as a prelude to the main event.
Trump’s decision to meet Kim bypasses the stalled six-party process hosted by Beijing but Kim’s apparent visit to Beijing would suggest China is determined not to be left out of the process.
– The Times