BEIJING (AP,Mar 27,2018):– North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping sought to portray strong ties between the neighbours and long-time allies despite a recent chill, as both countries on Wednesday confirmed Kim’s secret trip to Beijing this week.
China’s official Xinhua News Agency said Kim made the unofficial visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday at Xi’s invitation in what was in his first trip to a foreign country since he took power in 2011.
Xi held talks with Kim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and he and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a banquet for Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju, Xinhua said. They also watched an art performance together, the news agency said.
Kim was described by Xinhua as saying that his country wants to transform ties with South Korea into “a relationship of reconciliation and co-operation.” The two Koreas are still technically at war because their 1950-53 war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.
Kim also said that North Korea is willing to hold a summit with the United States, according to Xinhua.