NK special envoy Choe Ryong-hae leaves Pyongyang for China

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent special envoy Choe Ryong-hae to China, apparently in a bid to calm speculations that the Chinese leadership is planning t replace him with his elder brother Kim Jong-nam.

There have been no confirmed reasons for the visit but Choe is scheduled to meet with senior Chinese officials and departed on a flight Wednesday.