With an eye on N-plans, US, Kim visits Beijing
North Korean leader is expected to hold talks with Xi Jinping
BEIJING: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un took a train to Beijing for an unannounced three-day visit to China, his fourth since last March, amid speculation that he is seeking better ties with the US and Beijing’s advice and assurance to take forward denuclearisation talks.
Kim is in China from Monday to Thursday, said a spokesperson of the international department of the Communist Party of China’s central committee in Beijing. He is accompanied by his wife Ri Sol Ju. Tuesday, incidentally, is said to be Kim’s birthday.
As with the three visits in 2018, this trip wasn’t announced ahead by either China or North Korea.
Kim is expected to have long interactions with President Xi Jinping, who invited him to China. Kim met US President Donald Trump for a high-profile summit in Singapore last year and another summit is likely in the coming months.
Trump had said the venue for the second meeting would be announced soon. He told reporters that “a good dialogue was ongoing with North Korea, but sanctions would remain”.
In his New Year’s speech last week, Kim said he was committed to denuclearisation, but warned that he would change course if US sanctions remained.
The details about denuclearisation were not really spelt out by either side at the June summit between Kim and Trump.
China, as North Korea’s key ally and the main economic benefactor, would be crucial regarding talks with the US.
BEIJING DENIES ‘USING’ NORTH KOREAN LEADER
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang refuted reports that Beijing is using Kim as a bargaining chip to reach a trade deal with Washington.
Lu said Kim’s visit is a “coincidence” and it has nothing to do with the China-US talks.
The timeline may have overlapped with the two events taking place at the same time, he said.
“We don’t need any other tactics to get our message across. The US is very clear about China’s position,” he said, reaffirming China’s commitment to reach a deal with US benefitting both the countries.