BEIJING: A top official and confidante of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un yesterday met a senior Chinese official in Beijing, at a time of strained relations and ahead of a China-US summit.
Choe Ryong-Hae, Director of the Korean People’s Army politburo, flew to Beijing with senior military and ruling party officials, the Korean Central News Agency said, highlighting his role as Kim’s “special envoy”. Choe met Wang Jiarui, head of the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s International Department, the official news agency Xinhua said.
Choe is believed to be the highest ranking North Korean party official to visit China — Pyongyang’s sole major ally and chief economic benefactor — since late leader Kim Jong-Il in August 2011.
Kim also reappointed a hardline and loyal general as military chief in a move experts said was part of his attempt to tighten his grip on the armed forces.
Kim Kyok-sik, believed to have been behind the shelling of a South Korean island in 2010 that killed four people, was named “chief of the KPA (Korean People’s Army) General Staff”. The four-star general, in his 70s, held that position for two years until 2009. He replaced vice marshal Hyon Yong-chol.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye urged North to halt provocations and work with Seoul for peace on their divided peninsula, saying Pyongyang should never expect to gain concessions with bad behaviour. In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Japan may resume regular talks with North to resolve the issue of abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents.
Agencies
