中 왕이 외교부장 방북... 김정은, 10월에 방중하나
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is now in the North Korean capital for a three-day trip.
As North Korea and China celebrate 70 years of diplomatic ties in October, there is speculation that Wang's trip could be to prepare for another summit between Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping next month.
Oh Jung-hee reports.
Will there be a sixth summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October?
That's a possibility now being widely looked at... with Beijing's top diplomat in Pyeongyang for a three-day trip.
China's foreign ministry announced last Friday that its foreign minister Wang Yi is visiting the North from September 2nd to the 4th at the invitation of North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho.
That was also confirmed by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency the next day.
"State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit this time is to implement the consensus reached between our two countries and is an important follow-up step in advancing our bilateral relationship. During the visit, Wang will hold talks with Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho."
Pyeongyang and Beijing will celebrate 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year on October 6th.
With only about a month to go, observers point to that date for a possible trip by Kim to Beijing.
It would come at a time when Pyeongyang-Washington nuclear negotiations have hit a snag and high-level talks between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ri Yong-ho are unlikely to happen on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
While the North sees the need to deepen relations with China to up its leverage against the U.S., it's believed that China would want to cooperate with North Korea to increase its own influence... amid its standoff with the U.S. over trade and the Hong Kong protests.
"China is also willing to play a constructive role in achieving this, and towards achieving denuclearization of the Peninsula and the long-standing peace and stability of Northeast Asia."
The summit in October, if it happens, will be the sixth one between Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping.
Up until January this year, Kim has travelled to China four times... and in June, Xi visited the North.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
