ThunderBlade + 231 TB January 8, 2019 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing on Tuesday at the start of a four-day visit, in what's likely an effort to coordinate with his only major ally ahead of a second summit with President Donald Trump that could happen early this year. A long motorcade including motorcycle outriders reserved for state leaders left a Beijing train station shortly after the arrival of an armored train consisting of 20 to 25 cars — most of whose windows were blacked-out — along tracks lined by police and paramilitary troops. Kim's trip, announced earlier by both sides, comes after U.S. and North Korean officials are believed to have met in Vietnam to discuss the location of a second summit. North's Korean Central News Agency said Kim departed Monday afternoon with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and other top officials. It said Kim is visiting China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Tuesday also happens to be Kim's birthday. China's official Xinhua News Agency issued a nearly identical report, while Beijing's North Railway Station was cocooned in security, with dozens of police and paramilitary troops patrolling outside. Kim is expected to stay at the highly secure Diaoyutai State Guest House in the capital's west, with meetings held at the Great Hall of the People, the hulking seat of the legislature that sits next to Tiananmen Square. The trip marked a further break with past practice in that it was announced in advance of Kim's arrival, a possible sign of growing confidence on the part of North Korea and China, Pyongyang's most important trading partner and a key buffer against pressure from Washington. After years of cool relations following Kim's assumption of power 2011, ties have improved remarkably over the past year as Xi seeks to maintain his influence in the region. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pavel + 384 PP January 8, 2019 Well, I'm thinking that's not unusual. The only nation DPRK has relations with is PRC... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damirUSBiH + 327 DD January 8, 2019 A few interesting things about this KJU trip. Kim Jong Un has gone back to China -- on his birthday. What else is significant? Marks 4th time two leaders have met in PRC in 12 months These meetings often precede inter-Korean / U.S.-DPRK summits Xi's still not done good on his March '18 pledge to visit Pyongyang 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
50 shades of black + 254 January 8, 2019 Only 2 weeks ago DPRK announced it would only get rid of nuclear weapons if PRC and Russia did so too. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rainman + 263 January 8, 2019 Meeting of two leaders there for the fourth time in less than a year....XI wants to show who is master in negotiations between the US and NK 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damirUSBiH + 327 DD January 8, 2019 Axis of evil ... Who is missing? Wait, Russia, Iran, .... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 January 9, 2019 13 hours ago, Pavel said: Well, I'm thinking that's not unusual. The only nation DPRK has relations with is PRC... How about Iran and Cuba? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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