Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
Kim Jong-un holds summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Thursday. Reuters-Yonhap
By Anna J. Park
North Korean leader leaves Chinese capital aboard armored train Thursday night
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised China’s “fair stance” on Korean Peninsula issues during a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Thursday, marking their first bilateral meeting in more than six years.
According to China’s Xinhua News Agency, Kim expressed hope that the two countries would “continue strengthening coordination on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations to safeguard shared and fundamental interests.”
The North Korean leader also stressed that “no matter how the international situation changes, the friendship between North Korea and China will remain unchanged.”
During the talks, Xi emphasized the need to “strengthen strategic cooperation and safeguard common interests,” reiterating that China would “maintain an objective and fair position on the Korean Peninsula issue and enhance coordination with North Korea.”
Chinese state media, including CCTV and Xinhua, reported that Kim arrived at the Great Hall of the People Thursday afternoon. His motorcade was seen en route at approximately 5:45 p.m., shortly before the meeting with Xi was believed to have begun.
Police stand guard on a street leading to the North Korean embassy in Beijing, China, Thursday, after a motorcade of cars was seen driving to the mission. AFP-Yonhap
Kim departed the Great Hall of the People at around 9 p.m., following talks with the Chinese leader that are believed to have included a formal dinner. The timing of the meeting has fueled speculation that the two leaders shared an evening meal — an element of diplomatic protocol typically reserved for state visits, whereas official visits more commonly include a private lunch.
Local media outlets reported that after concluding his summit with the Chinese president, Kim boarded his special train at Beijing Railway Station and departed for Pyongyang in the evening.
The summit came just two days after Xi held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which included a tea ceremony and a small banquet.
Kim spent a third day in Beijing Thursday, after arriving earlier this week aboard his armored train, accompanied by his daughter and presumed heir, Ju-ae, to attend a parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.