North Korean leader pledges his commitment to denuclearising the Korean peninsula during his first foreign trip since he took power in 2011

China has confirmed that the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has visited Beijing, where he met the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and pledged his commitment to denuclearising the Korean peninsula.

Kim Jong-un and the mystery of the 'special green train' in China Read more

Confirming several reports over the last two days, Xinhua state news agency said Kim had been in China on an “unofficial visit” from Sunday to Wednesday.

According to Xinhua, Kim told Xi the situation on the Korean peninsula was “starting to get better”. He said: “It is our consistent stand to be committed to denuclearisation on the peninsula, in accordance with the will of late President Kim Il-sung and late General Secretary Kim Jong-il.”

Kim added that the issue of denuclearisation could be resolved if South Korea and the US “respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability”.

After years of provocations and missile tests, Pyongyang has made an unexpected effort in diplomacy recently. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, led a delegation to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, last month that led to direct talks with South Korea.

Kim is expected to meet with the South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, in April and hold a summit with the US president, Donald Trump, possibly in May. On his visit to Beijing, Kim reportedly said he was willing to “have dialogue” with the US.

Josh Chin 李肇华 (@joshchin) CCTV confirms Kim Jong-un met with Xi Jinping in Beijing. Wives also met. Kim reaffirmed willingness to meet with Trump, praised Xi as the “core” of the CCP of course. pic.twitter.com/v6HuL7DR8O

Trump tweeted on Wednesday morning that Xi had sent him a message on Tuesday saying that the visit had gone very well and that Kim was looking forward to meeting him. “In the meantime, and unfortunately, maximum sanctions and pressure must be maintained at all cost,” Trump wrote.

“For years and through many administrations, everyone said that peace and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was not even a small possibility,” he tweeted. “Now there is a good chance that Kim Jong-un will do what is right for his people and for humanity. Look forward to our meeting!”

Michael Kovrig, senior adviser for north-east Asia at the International Crisis Group, an independent conflict-prevention organisation, said: “This is a positive political signal that Pyongyang is ready for more dialogue. But the challenge will be creating the trust and conditions under which Kim would actually feel secure enough to denuclearise, while remaining vigilant on proliferation and deterrence. That won’t be easy.”

The visit by Kim to Beijing also marks the North Korean leader’s first trip to China since coming to power in 2011, as well as his first state visit. Kim had not been invited to Beijing nor had he met Xi before now.



Analysts believe China is eager not to be sidelined in any talks between North Korea and the US as well as with South Korea. China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi will on Thursday brief South Korean officials, including Moon, in Seoul on Kim’s visit, according to the president’s office.

China is North Korea’s closest ally, having fought with North Korea against the South during the Korean war, but relations have been strained as China has supported international sanctions against Pyongyang for its nuclear programme.



China accounts for more than 90% of North Korea’s overall trade and also provides food aid and energy assistance to Pyongyang. North Korea’s black market of electronics, fuel, and other goods comes mostly from China.

Describing the visit as his “solemn duty”, Kim said, according to North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, that “there is no question that my first foreign visit is to the Chinese capital”.

KCNA however made no mention of Kim’s pledge to denuclearise, or his anticipated meeting with Trump.

The visit was shrouded in secrecy. Reports of the arrival of an armoured train similar to that used by Kim’s father when he visited China in 2011 sparked speculation that the younger Kim could be in China.

Despite the presence of a heavily guarded motorcade in Beijing and extra security around the North Korean embassy, Chinese officials avoided questions about the visit. Past visits by North Korean leaders were not confirmed by China or North Korea until the dignitary had left the country.

Under Kim, the annual frequency of high-level exchanges has been low, compared with visits during the tenure of former Chinese leader Hu Jintao and Kim’s father, Kim Jong-il, according to an analysis of state visits by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies’s project, Beyond Parallel.

Play Video 0:40 Did North Korea's Kim Jong-un ride in this mystery train to China? - video report

Kovrig cautioned that Kim’s talk of denuclearisation should be taken with a grain of salt and seen as an expression of long-term political intent. “It’s highly unlikely North Korea would abandon its nuclear deterrent without significant changes in its relationship with the US and the regional security situation,” he said.

Xi reportedly accepted an invitation from Kim to make an official visit to North Korea “at a convenient time”. In Beijing, Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, met Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, where they attended a welcome banquet and watched an art performance.

“We speak highly of this visit,” Xi told Kim, according to Xinhua.