China-North Korea: Kim Jong On State Visit

Chinese media on January 8, 2019 reported that Kim Jong un, Chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK (North Korea), is visiting the country from January 7-10, 2019.

A spokesperson for the International Department of the Communist Party of China, CPC Central Committee, made the disclosure in the capital, Beijing. The visit is at the invitation of Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese President.

The DPRK leader and wife, Ri Sol-ju, arrived in China by train through the border town of Dandong. British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC said Kim is thought to be accompanied by several leading North Korean officials. Last year, Kim Jong-un visited China three times, with two of the trips taking place ahead of his historic summits with South Korean President, Moon Jae-in and United States President, Donald Trump.

The latest visit is likely to fuel speculation that a second US-North Korean summit will take place soon. Earlier this week, President Trump said a location for another meeting with the DPRK leader will be announced in the near future. Kim and Trump met last June for the first such meeting for a sitting US president. Kim Jong-un in his New Year speech last week said he was committed to denuclearisation, but warned that he would change course if US sanctions remained.

Trump told reporters in Wash...