Kim, Xi reaffirm denuclearization

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Tuesday. Yonhap

By Kim Bo-eun

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit his country, and Xi accepted the invitation, the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Thursday.

The report stated Kim invited Xi to visit “at a convenient time” and that Xi accepted the invitation and “notified Kim of his plan.”

The invitation came during a summit held in Beijing during Kim's Wednesday through Thursday trip to China.

Kim and Xi have held four summits so far, all of them in China.

Xi visited Pyongyang as vice president in 2008 and met with Kim Jong-un's father Kim Jong-il. If made, the trip will be the first for Xi after Kim Jong-un took power in December 2011.

The KCNA also reported the leaders discussed denuclearization and the achievement of peace on the Korean Peninsula.

“There is no change in our stance of adhering to the goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, carrying out the joint statement reached at the North Korea-U.S. summit in Singapore and seeking a peaceful resolution through dialogue,” it cited Kim as stating.

“China can play an active and constructive role for the stabilization of affairs on the Korean Peninsula,” Xi was cited as saying.

The report said the two discussed the issue of "jointly studying and steering the management of affairs on the Korean Peninsula and the process of denuclearization talks” in depth, signaling China's intention to play a weighty role.

It also stated that Kim brought up the “difficulties and concerns that came up in the process of denuclearization talks.” This is seen to have been referring to differences between Pyongyang and Washington over disarmament steps and corresponding measures that would be taken, which have led to a months-long deadlock in the bilateral talks.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported Xi as saying “it has become the international community's common expectation and consensus for the dialogue to continue and yield results.”

He said China supports North Korea's continued adherence to the direction of denuclearization on the peninsula and supports North Korea and the U.S. holding summits and achieving results.

“China stands ready to work with North Korea and relevant parties to play a positive and constructive role in maintaining peace and stability and realizing denuclearization on the peninsula and lasting peace and stability in the region,” he was quoted as saying.

The report stated Kim said, “North Korea will make efforts for the second summit between North Korea and U.S. leaders to achieve results that will be welcomed by the international community.”

Kim arrived in Beijing Tuesday and held a summit with Xi the same day. The Chinese first couple hosted a dinner reception for their North Korean counterpart. Kim and Xi also met in the morning and for a luncheon the following day, according to the Xinhua report.