Kim Jong Un visits China

• Japan offers to host second U.S.-North Korea summit: report
• Pompeo, Kim agree to second U.S.-North Korea summit 'as soon as possible'

At the invitation of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese president, Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is visiting China, said the spokesperson of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee in Beijing on Jan. 7.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is visiting China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping since Jan.7 to 10. Photo: Reuters

Kim is visiting China from Jan. 7 to 10, said Xinhuanews.

Kim left for China on a private train on Monday afternoon accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and senior North Korean officials, including Kim Yong Chol, a major negotiator, and Ri Yong Ho, North Korea’s KCNA news agency said.

“He was warmly seen off by leading officials of the Party, government and armed forces organs at the railway station,” KCNA said in its report.

The visit coincided with what South Korean officials say is Kim’s 35th birthday on January 8.

Kim’s visit to North Korea’s most important economic and diplomatic ally, which was first reported by South Korean media, follows reports of advanced negotiations for a second summit between Washington and Pyongyang aimed at resolving the standoff over North Korea’s nuclear program.

Kim said in a New Year speech last week he is ready to meet Trump anytime to achieve their common goal of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. But he warned that he may seek an alternative path to a summit with Trump if U.S. sanctions and pressure against the country continues.