Kim Jong-Un pays 'surprise' visit to China ahead of Trump meeting
Donald Trump has expressed optimism that North Korea will 'denuclearise' the peninsula as it emerged that leader Kim Jong-Un visited Beijing ahead of his summit with the US president.
Kim met China's President Xi Jinping in his first diplomatic visit outside North Korea since he was named leader six years ago and his first meeting with another foreign leader, Chinese media reported on Wednesday.
The North Korean leader said that without a doubt the Chinese capital had to be his first foreign visit, the news agency KCNA reported. "It's my solemn duty as someone who has to appreciate our ties across generations."
Critically, he said he was ready to denuclearise the peninsula if South Korea and the US respond "amicably" to their efforts of goodwill and create an atmosphere of peace and stability.
The secret visit from March 25 to 28 improved the Cold-War allies' relationship following strains on the back of Pyongyang's nuclear program which were seen as potentially endangering the safety of Chinese living on the border.
Both countries' leaders also discussed the importance of Beijing not being left out of any deal struck between North Korea and the US or South Korea, with Xi Jinping now also expected to pay a visit to the North Korean capital at some point.
The meeting comes ahead of the inter korean summit in April and the anticipated face to face of Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un in May.
US president Donald Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday morning to show his support for Kim Jong Un's decision to denuclearise the peninsula: "For years and through many administrations, everyone said that peace and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was not even a small possibility. Now there is a good chance that Kim Jong Un will do what is right for his people and for humanity. Look forward to our meeting!"