Kim Jong Un’s train left Beijing on Wednesday after the
North Korean leader visited his key ally on a trip seen as a strategy session
ahead of his expected summit with Donald Trump.
Kim arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for his fourth visit to
Pyongyang’s sole major diplomatic friend, meeting President Xi Jinping and
reportedly visiting a factory.
The North Korean leader’s motorcade was spotted entering the
Beijing central railway station on Wednesday afternoon, and the train departed
shortly after on a day-long ride back to the northeast border, according to AFP
journalists.
The unannounced trip was largely shrouded in secrecy. Beyond
confirming his presence in Beijing, no details have been provided by either
North Korea or China on his schedule.
Kim met for one hour with Chinese President Xi Jinping on
Tuesday — believed to be the North Korean leader’s birthday — and the two later
dined with their wives at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, according to
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
“Chairman Kim Jong Un’s visit to China was at the invitation
of President Xi Jinping, of course, President Xi would hold meetings and talks
with him,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular press
briefing, adding that more details would be released later.
Tuesday’s meeting focused on Kim’s expected meeting with
Trump, according to Yonhap.
In a New Year speech, Kim warned that Pyongyang may change
its approach to nuclear talks if Washington persists with sanctions.
Relations between China and North Korea had deteriorated in
recent years over Pyongyang’s nuclear activities, but Kim has made sure to keep
Xi informed about his dealings with the United States and South Korea as ties
appear to have warmed.
“In order to resist the high pressure of the US, he must
communicate with Xi in advance to see what steps he can take to deal with
Trump,” Beijing-based independent political commentator Hua Po revealed.
“Kim needs the support of Xi so as to ask the US to make
substantial steps, such as providing assistance to North Korea and normalising
relations with North Korea.”
Kim chose China for his maiden official trip abroad last
year before holding meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Trump.
The American leader said Sunday that the United States and
North Korea are negotiating the location of their next summit.
Discussions between the US and North Korea over Pyongyang’s
nuclear arsenal have stalled since Kim and Trump’s high-profile summit in
Singapore in June where they issued a vaguely worded declaration about
denuclearisation.
The US insists that UN sanctions must remain in place until
North Korea gives up its weapons, while Pyongyang wants them immediately eased.
China also wants the sanctions to be relaxed.
(AFP)
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