Kim Jong Un makes ‘surprise’ visit to China
North Korean leader set to hold talks ahead of rumoured summit with Trump
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in China for a “surprise” summit with Chinese president Xi Jinping, ahead of a possible meeting between Kim and Donald Trump.
State-run North Korean news services reported that Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju will be in China to meet with Xi until Thursday, at the invitation of the Chinese president.
The Washington Post reports that the meetings between North Korea and China come as Kim and Trump are “negotiating over the location for a second summit meeting”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“It will be announced probably in the not-too-distant future,” Trump told reporters on Sunday. “They do want to meet and we want to meet and we'll see what happens.”
South Korea’s Yonhap news service says that Kim was accompanied on the trip by “Kim Yong Chol, a key nuclear negotiator with the US, and Ri Yong Ho and No Kwang Chol, the country's foreign and defence ministers, respectively”.
Kim and his entourage reportedly travelled in the North Korean leader’s heavily fortified personal train, with security at the border crossing site in Dandong said to be very tight while the train was passing through.
It is the fourth time Kim has travelled to China to meet with Xi, and comes at a delicate time for China as talks between Washington and Beijing get underway to address the ongoing trade war.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
'It may not be surprising that creative work is used without permission'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 simple items to help make your airplane seat more comfortable
The Week Recommends Gel cushions and inflatable travel pillows make a world of difference
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published