North Korean leader Kim visits China
His first trip out of state as ruler
BEIJING — The Chinese government confirmed Wednesday that North Korea’s reclusive leader Kim Jong Un went to Beijing and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in his first known trip to a foreign country since he took power in 2011.
The official Xinhua News Agency said Mr. Kim made an unofficial visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday.
Mr. Xi held talks with Mr. Kim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and he and wife Peng Liyuan hosted a banquet for Mr. Kim and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, Xinhua said. They also watched an art performance together, the news agency said.
Analysts say Mr. Kim would have felt a need to consult with his country’s traditional ally ahead of his planned meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The North’s diplomatic outreach came after an unusually provocative year when it conducted its most powerful nuclear test to date and three ICBMs tests designed to target the U.S. mainland.
The developments were interpreted as the North being desperate to break out of isolation and improve its economy after being squeezed by heavy sanctions.
China remains North Korea’s only major ally and chief provider of energy, aid and trade that keep the country’s broken economy afloat — even though relations have chilled recently because of Mr. Kim’s development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.
The visit to China marks the special train to Beijing Mr. Kim’s first known trip and unusually heavy security since taking power in 2011 at a guesthouse where and his reported meeting prominent North Koreans with Mr. Xi was his first have stayed pointed to the meeting with a foreign head possibility that Mr. Kim of state. was making his first visit
Mr. Kim’s father, late to China as the North’s North Korean leader Kim leader. Jong Il, visited China several Analysts, however, had times during his rule, questioned whether Mr. lastly in May 2011, months Kim would make the visit to before his death. Beijing himself rather than
Past visits by Kim Jong Il send an envoy. to China were surrounded In any case, the North in secrecy, with Beijing Korean leader’s trip to Beijing only confirming his presence appeared to be short. after he had crossed North’s official Korean Central the border by train back News Agency reported into North Korea. that Mr. Kim and his wife
Before Beijing’s announcement, made an “unofficial” visit South from March 25 to 28 at the Korea’s presidential office invitation of Mr. Xi. could not confirm reports Mr. Kim traveled with all that the train carried Mr. his top aides, including Kim nor a separate report Choe Ryong Hae, often that Mr. Kim’s sister was called the number two onboard. But the visit by leader of North Korea and head of the powerful Organization and Guidance Department, and Ri Su Yong, the former ambassador to Switzerland and foreign minister, who is now a top official in the Politburo, KCNA said.
A visit to Beijing could capitalize on the relative success of North Korea’s diplomacy around the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, last month.
A delegation led by Mr. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, and the North’s nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam, put on a charm offense at the Games that led to direct talks with the South Koreans and the extraordinary offer to meet directly with Mr. Trump.
With his power at home secure and the country’s nuclear program perhaps completed, Mr. Kim appears to have the confidence to emerge as a recognized, if not yet respected, player on the international scene, a crowning achievement for an ambitious young leader.
Du Hyeogn Cha, a visiting scholar at Seoul’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said that the visit could be part of the North’s effort to gain leverage in the talks with South Korea and the United States.
On Monday, White House spokesman Raj Shah reiterated Mr. Trump’s plans to meet with Mr. Kim, saying the U.S.-led international pressure campaign against Pyongyang “has paid dividends and has brought the North Koreans to the table.”
The New York Times and The Washington Post contributed.