Did North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un Just Secretly Visit China?

Multiple reports claim that Kim Jong Un was in Beijing for a short trip, ahead of a summit with Donald Trump.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un

(File Photo: Reuters)

Was Kim Jong-un in Beijing on 27 March? Heavy police deployment at the border of China and North Korea on 27 March sparked speculation that the North Korean leader was in China, PTI reported.

Hours later, Reuters reported what was believed to be a train of the North Korean delegation train pulling out of a Beijing station. As per the report, the group was reported to have arrived in China on Sunday, 25 March after crossing from North Korea in the border city of Dandong.

Visit Shrouded in Secrecy

Bloomberg, citing three unidentified sources, reported on 26 March that Kim was in Beijing in what would be his first known trip outside North Korea since taking power in 2011. The unconfirmed visit also came ahead of a potential summit with US President Donald Trump.

Diplomatic sources in Beijing told PTI that a senior North Korean official was in town, but did not know exactly who.

While there was no official confirmation about Kim’s visit, this was believed to be his first trip abroad since he took over the reins of North Korea in 2011 after his father’s death.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told PTI that it was unaware of the issue.

The South China Morning Post reported that a “high-profile figure had made the journey into China”. However, the news outlet failed to confirm the identity of the person.

At the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, where foreign dignitaries usually stay, there was a marked increase in police activity, with a large number of officers and about 50 vehicles seen in the area, and nearby roads being cordoned off, PTI said.

Reuters also reported that a delegation left the State Guesthouse building in Beijing on the morning of 27 March, but was unable to identify where it went.

A senior US official who follows North Korea closely told Reuters that the available evidence suggested that Kim had travelled to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, but stressed that has not been confirmed.

“At present I have no understanding of the situation you mention. If there is news we will release it,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular daily briefing in the capital.

Tensions temporarily abated in the Korean Peninsula recently over North Korea's nuclear programme after US President Donald Trump agreed for a summit meeting with Kim.

Though North Korea has remained a long-standing ally of China, relations between the two countries have been strained after Beijing beefed up UN sanctions by blocking essential supplies like oil and coal following pressure from Trump.

Watching Beijing Very Carefully: South Korea

South Korea said on 27 March it was closely watching events unfolding in Beijing, amid reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was in the Chinese capital ahead of a series of historic summits, Reuters quoted officials as saying.

“The presidential Blue House is watching things in Beijing very closely, while keeping all possibilities open,” said a senior official in Seoul, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Improving bilateral ties between North Korea and China would be a positive sign before the planned summits, he added.

(With inputs from PTI and Reuters)

(This copy has been updated to reflect what is believed to be the end of the visit.)