Related: Slow Saturday Special: China Keeps the Peace in Korea
"N. Korean leader reportedly visits China" by Washington Post | May 4, 2010
BEIJING — A special train reportedly carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il arrived in China yesterday for a much anticipated visit. Kim was expected to appeal to China for economic aid and, in return, perhaps concede to return to the stalled six-party nuclear talks.
The visit is taking place at a time of heightened tension between Pyongyang and South Korea, a key US ally, after the sinking of a South Korean warship in late March and a deepening investigation into whether North Korea was the perpetrator of that attack. North Korea’s already faltering economy has also been unraveling at a potentially calamitous rate.
Neither the Chinese nor the North Korean government gave official confirmation of Kim’s trip, but his past visits have not been officially acknowledged until they were over....
A key question for North Korea watchers is whether Kim’s third son and potential heir, Kim Jong-Un, would have accompanied him on this trip, during which the two would presumably meet the younger Kim’s future Chinese counterparts. His presence on the trip would strengthen assumptions that his ailing father is preparing to transfer power. South Korean broadcasters last year reported that Kim had life-threatening pancreatic cancer.
China remains North Korea’s most significant benefactor and ally.--more--"
"China refuses to confirm visit as Kim Jong Il heads to Beijing; South stops short of accusing North in sinking of ship" by Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press | May 5, 2010
BEIJING — North Korea’s reclusive leader, Kim Jong Il, was making his way yesterday to China’s capital on a rare overseas trip meant to be so secret that Beijing refused to confirm it — despite videos shot by foreign media showing him leaving a Chinese hotel.
Kim is expected to meet with President Hu Jintao and other top Chinese leaders just as South Korea inches closer to blaming the North for the recent sinking of a navy ship that killed 46 sailors. Kim’s visits to China, North Korea’s chief benefactor, are usually not officially announced until he leaves the country, but he was photographed leaving a hotel after reportedly arriving in the Chinese port city of Dalian aboard a luxury 17-car armored train.
Kim, North Korea’s absolute ruler, is known to shun air travel.
Kim’s visit, expected for months, is occurring amid increasing speculation in South Korea that his hard-line Communist regime may have torpedoed the South Korean warship in disputed waters near their maritime border in March.
In Seoul yesterday, President Lee Myung Bak said the sinking of the Cheonan was not a “simple accident’’ and ordered a thorough review of South Korea’s military readiness.
Lee called North Korea’s military “the most belligerent forces,’’ but stopped short of directly naming the North as a suspect in the March 26 disaster.
If South Korea declares North Korea responsible for the sinking, it could look to China to back new United Nations sanctions aimed at punishing the North. China would probably be reluctant to support such measures, fearing they could spark unrest along its border with North Korea.
In Seoul, South Korea’s unification minister, Hyun In Taek, met with Ambassador Zhang Xinsen of China yesterday and called on Beijing to play a “responsible role’’ amid the North-South tensions, according to spokesman Chun Hae Sung. Chun did not elaborate or say whether China was being asked to convey a specific message to North Korea. The sensitive timing of the visit and lack of notice from Beijing drew criticism from some South Koreans.--more--"
