Global Geopolitical Series: North Korean and Chinese state media houses confirm Kim’s state visit to China

After two days of rampant speculations, both Chinese and North Korean state-owned media have confirmed that North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong-Un and his spouse have visited China. While North Korean state-owned media, KCNA didn’t mention anything on Kim’s pledge to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and his upcoming meeting with the U.S. President Donald Trump which will be held sometime in May, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that Kim has pledged to denuclearize.

Chinese state-owned media Xinhua reported that after meeting with President Xi of China, Kim said, “It is our consistent stand to be committed to denuclearization on the peninsula, in accordance with the will of late President Kim Il Sung and late General Secretary Kim Jong Il….. The issue of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realization of peace".

Last September, North Korea carried out its sixth nuclear test, which was followed by a series of missile launches in September and November. However, starting from the Winter Olympic Games, that saw a high-ranking North Korean delegation arriving in South Korea, Pyongyang has shown it is willing to seek mutual rapprochement with the West and its neighbors, primarily South Korea. At the Winter Olympic, both North and South Korean athletes marched together under reunification flag.

After his talks with Kim, President Xi reportedly said the China-North Korea relations are a strategic choice and the only right choice both sides have made based on history and reality and praised Kim’s record of improving the economy and well-being of ordinary North Koreans. Xi also promised a return visit to Pyongyang at an appropriate time when he was invited by Kim Jong Un.