North Korean Leader Secretly Visits China

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il made a top-secret visit to China via a special train yesterday.

A source in Beijing said on the same day, “As far as I know, Kim will visit China to meet the Chinese leadership, including Chinese President Hu Jintao, and discuss key bilateral issues.”

When asked whether Kim will visit China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan answered, “I have no authority to confirm the matter,” but hinted at the validity of Kim’s visit to China, saying, “The two countries have kept a tradition in which their leaderships have visited each other and maintained a good neighbor relationship.”

Kim’s trip to China comes after a 21-month hiatus since visiting China in April 2004, and it is a return visit in response to Chinese President Hu Jintao’s to Pyongyang last October.

However, Kim’s specific itineraries and destinations have not yet been confirmed.

“Kim will pay a 4-day visit to China and hold a summit meeting with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao today to consult on key bilateral issues, including the expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries and the North Korean nuclear issue,” said the source in Beijing. In particular, regarding the North Korean nuclear impasse, the source said, “Kim will convey his stance to Chinese President Hu Jintao that it will be difficult to resume the six-party talks on the North’s nuclear program due to the financial sanctions imposed by the U.S., and seek to drum up understanding and support from Beijing,” adding, “There is the possibility that Kim will deliver his steadfast stance regarding the thorny issues to Chinese President Hu Jintao.”

It can be said that the U.S. has stepped up pressure on financial sanctions against the North in a bid to block it from committing illegal activities such as counterfeiting U.S. currency, citing that six-party talks are a far cry from financial sanctions, but the chances are high that the North will seek a face-off with the U.S. in lieu of taking a compromising attitude.

Kim will reportedly visit Shanghai or Tianjin on January 12 and tour the economic development situation. Kim visited Shanghai in January 2001 and visited Tianjin during his visit to China in 2004.

The fact that Kim crossed the border between the two countries was confirmed a few hours after the special train that Kim went aboard passed Dandong, a city that borders Aprok River, at 6:00 a.m. since Kim’s visit to China is regarded as top secret.

Yoo-Seong Hwang yshwang@donga.com