NORTH KOREAN TYRANT’S FIRST FOREIGN TRIP

He needs help of his only ally

KIM Jong-un is on a charm offensive.

This is an attempt to reverse some of the negative attitudes created in the last few years by his nuclear and missile programme.

He reached out to South Korea with the expression of willingness to attend the Winter Olympics and followed up with the offer of a Korean summit.

He then turned to the US and apparently made a similar offer.

Relations with China have been vitally important for North Korea.

China saved them in the Korean War and has helped ever since. It is the natural place to turn for advice.

Because of party-to-party links, informal visits were not unusual in the past but in recent years those links have been stretched.

Kim had none of his father’s or grandfather’s involvement with China and may have become concerned about its willingness to interfere on the peninsula. So he got rid of two relatives with close ties to China, uncle Jang Song-thaek and halfbrother Kim Jong-nam.

But the country still needs China, for economic and political reasons.

Kim may hope to soften China’s stand on sanctions but may also be seeking guidance on handling Mr Trump. Chinese President Xi has, after all, met the US president.

Kim Jong-un can point out that he is doing what China suggested – talking – and the North Koreans may be cashing in on that.