Münchener Post - Beijing Details Kim Jong-un Visit to China During Talks With Seoul

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi provided detailed accounts of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s recent trip to the Chinese border city of Dandong during bilateral talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Beijing on Friday.

The briefing occurred at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where Wang elaborated on Kim’s visit on Oct. 24, according to a senior South Korean foreign ministry official who spoke to reporters on Saturday. The official noted that the Chinese side shared "relatively detailed accounts" of the trip.

A key point of clarification involved the nature of Beijing's relationship with Pyongyang. The Chinese delegation stated that, at a basic level, China's relations with North Korea are focused on economic cooperation rather than political affairs.

The talks also addressed Wang’s recent meeting with Kim Song-nam, a senior official from the North Korean ruling party who visited Beijing last week. Additionally, the two foreign ministers discussed the possibility of a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, amid ongoing speculation about renewed diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang.

Following the discussions, the South Korean official offered a cautious assessment of the diplomatic prospects. "My impression (after the talks) was that while there is a possibility, it is not that big," the official said. The official noted that any potential summit would likely depend on the political situation in the United States and President Trump's willingness to engage.

During the Friday session, Cho Hyun urged China to play a constructive role in resolving Korean Peninsula issues. Seoul’s foreign ministry stated that Cho specifically called for efforts to bring North Korea back to dialogue.

R.Schmidt--MP