Convoy seen in Beijing amid reports of possible visit by high-level North Korean official

A convoy was seen in Beijing on Monday (March 26) evening at around 22:20 local time heading from The Great Hall of People towards the direction of Diaoyutai State Guest House where high level some high level foreign visitors stay during visits to the city.

Japanese media reported that a high-ranking North Korean official appeared to have arrived by train in Beijing on Monday (March 26) though speculation that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is currently visiting the Chinese capital has not been confirmed.

A source with ties to the Chinese military told Reuters that it was "not possible to rule out the possibility" that Kim was visiting Beijing, but cautioned this was not confirmed.

Kyodo, citing sources, reported that on Sunday (March 25), a special train that might have carried the official passed through the Chinese border city of Dandong, and Beijing railway bureau warned on its microblog, without giving a reason, of multiple train delays of up to two hours in the Beijing region.

Police tightened security along Beijing's main east-west thoroughfare, Changan Avenue, mid-afternoon Monday, closing off the entrances to some of the buildings which face the road.

Police also cleared out all tourists from Tiananmen Square around the same time, which normally only happens when important meetings are happening in the Great Hall of the People, where top Chinese leaders often meet visiting heads of state.

Beijing has traditionally been North Korea's closest ally, but Kim is due to hold summit meetings separately with rivals South Korea and the United States. Kyodo said the visit of the official was intended to improve ties between Beijing and Pyongyang that have been frayed by North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and China's backing of tough sanctions against North Korea at the United Nations Security Council.

Visits to China by Kim's late father, Kim Jong Il, were only confirmed by both China and North Korea once he had left the country. Kim Jong Il travelled by private train under tight security during his rare visits to China or Russia, and according to diplomats and sources, avoided flying due to security concerns.

The younger Kim, who was educated in Switzerland, is not known to have any fear of flying and state media have shown pictures of him aboard a plane. However, he is not known to have traveled outside the country since assuming power in late 2011 after his father's death. (REUTERS)