NK Leader Returns Home From China Trip

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il left China Thursday after a four-day visit.

He left for the North on a train at Beijing Railway Station at 4:30 p.m. After passing through the Chinese city of Dandong, the train was expected to enter North Korea early Friday morning.

Kim attended a luncheon meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on economic cooperation. Three luxurious sedans and five patrol cars guarding them from Zhongnanhai, the central government compound, headed for the guesthouse to see Kim at 11:25 a.m. and left at 1:40 p.m.

A diplomatic source in Beijing said, “Considering that Wen had a separate luncheon with Kim back in 2006 when he visited China, Wen might have held a meeting with Kim to celebrate his visit.”

Experts say Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang also attended the luncheon. Wen and Li are in charge of China’s economic affairs. Accordingly, Kim and Wen are likely to have discussed economic cooperation at the luncheon.

mungchii@donga.com bonhong@donga.com