Chinese President Arrives in North Korea

Hu Jintao, the Chinese president and general secretary of the Communist Party, visited North Korea on October 28 at the invitation of North Korea’s Defense Committee Chairman Kim Jong Il.

On that day, Chairman Kim greeted the Chinese president in person with major North Korean leaders at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport. President Hu’s visit to the North is the first visit by any Chinese supreme leader in approximately the last four years, since former President Jiang Zemin’s visit in September 2001.

President Hu will stay in Pyongyang until October 30. During his stay, he will have a summit meeting with Chairman Kim to reaffirm traditional friendship between the two countries. The two leaders will also discuss measures to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis, expansion of bilateral economic cooperation and regional security issues.

Yoo-Seong Hwang yshwang@donga.com