China and North Korea

A high-level delegation of Chinese officials will visit North Korea this week to attend celebrations for a key national holiday, both sides say.

Pyongyang celebrates the 75th anniversary of the country's founding day on September 9 and the nuclear-armed state has previously indicated it will hold a "militia parade" to mark the event.

A delegation headed by China's vice premier Liu Guozhong "will visit the DPRK to participate in the celebrations of the 75th birthday," of the country, the official Korean Central News Agency said, using the country's official acronym. — AFP

China warns Washington and Seoul against "provoking confrontation" with North Korea, after President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart said Pyongyang would face the "end" of its leadership if it uses its nuclear arsenal.

"All parties should face up to the crux of the (Korean) peninsula issue and play a constructive role in promoting a peaceful settlement of the issue," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning says.

She urges against "deliberately stirring up tensions, provoking confrontation and playing up threats". — AFP

China's special representative on Korean peninsula affairs, Liu Xiaoming, is in Seoul this week for his first visit to the South since taking office. He met his South Korean counterpart, Noh Kyu-duk, on Tuesday.

The two envoys discussed the "grave situation" on the Korean peninsula and measures for "stable management", Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Liu expressed "the Chinese side's willingness to play a constructive role for the peaceful resolution of the Korean peninsula issue", the ministry added in a statement. — AFP

North Korea's state media reports that China's President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of cooperation between Beijing and Pyongyang in an unspecified "new situation".

North Korea, officially known as the DPRK, carried out an unprecedented seven weapon tests in January -- including its most powerful missile since 2017 -- with negotiations with the United States at a standstill. 

It paused testing during the Beijing Winter Olympics, with analysts saying the decision could have been made out of deference to China. — AFP 

North Korea lauds its ties with historic ally China as Xi Jinping wrapped up a highly symbolic two-day visit to his nuclear-armed neighbour, with both countries facing deadlock in their negotiations with US President Donald Trump.

Kim Jong Un tells the Chinese president that his visit was an opportunity to demonstrate "the immutability and invincibility of the DPRK-China friendship before the world", the KCNA news agency reported, using the abbreviation of North Korea's official name. — AFP/Sebastien Berger

Xi Jinping left on a historic trip to North Korea, the first by a Chinese president in 14 years as he seeks to reboot ties with the neighboring ally.

Xi, who will pay a two-day state visit, is accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other officials, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

— AFP

Xi Jinping, who will be the first Chinese president to visit Pyongyang in 14 years, has written a rare front-page opinion piece in North Korea's official newspaper, touting their "irreplaceable" bond on the eve of this two-day trip.

Xi is visiting the country at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as both men face their own protracted negotiations with US President Donald Trump.

With his visit, Xi can show that China still has some influence on its Cold War-era ally and play a role in efforts to convince Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme. — AFP

China says leaders from 37 nations and North Korean representatives will attend a summit for its Belt and Road Initiative next week as it hit back at criticism of the massive trade infrastructure project.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's pet project is a $1 trillion programme that includes maritime, rail and road projects in Asia, Africa and Europe. — AFP

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's trip to China this week is a sign that a second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump is "imminent", the South's President Moon Jae-in says. 

"I think Chairman Kim Jong Un's visit to China will have a very positive effect on the success of the second US-North Korea summit," Moon says. — AFP

A special train used by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un leaves Beijing as he wrapped up his fourth visit to China.

Journalists see the distinctive olive green train with a single yellow stripe leave a station in central Beijing, a day after Kim's arrival on a visit to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of his expected summit with Donald Trump. — AFP

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly visited a pharmaceutical factory in China as he seeks economic support from his key ally along with diplomatic backing before his expected summit with Donald Trump. — AFP

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived at Beijing train station on a visit to China to meet President Xi Jinping, the South's Yonhap news agency reports.

It carried a picture of Kim's distinctive dark green train, emblazoned with a yellow stripe, entering the station at 10:55 a.m. local time (0255 GMT). — AFP

Kim Jong Un is visiting China for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean state media reports.

The North Korean leader "is to visit China on Jan. 7-10... at the invitation of Xi Jinping", the official Korean Central News Agency says.

Beijing is isolated, nuclear-armed Pyongyang's key diplomatic ally and main source of trade and aid, and Kim visited three times last year to pay his respects to the Chinese leader. — AFP

Kim Jong Un is visiting China for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean state media reported Tuesday.

The North Korean leader "is to visit China on Jan. 7-10... at the invitation of Xi Jinping", the official Korean Central News Agency said.

Beijing is isolated, nuclear-armed Pyongyang's key diplomatic ally and main source of trade and aid, and Kim visited three times last year to pay his respects to the Chinese leader.

China derides the "irresponsible and absurd logic" of the United States after President Donald Trump accused Beijing of making Washington's relationship with North Korea more difficult.

"To solve the problem, it should look at itself instead of shifting blame," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying says. 

A senior Chinese official is striking a reassuring note about Beijing's commitment to progress in North Korea's denuclearization, after President Donald Trump accused China of interfering in talks between Pyongyang and Washington.

Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou tells reporters that China and the U.S. have "maintained close coordination and communication" on the issue.

Acknowledging that the process "will not be plain sailing," Kong says he believed that if talks are held candidly and on an equal basis, with mutual respect, "all the questions will find the right answers."

On Monday, Trump tweeted that China "may be exerting negative pressure" on North Korea because of an escalating trade dispute between the U.S. and China. But he tweeted, "Hope Not!" — AP

Chinese state media say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will make a two-day state visit starting Tuesday.

Kim's trip follows his groundbreaking summit with President Donald Trump in Singapore last week that resulted in a surprise announcement of a US suspension of military drills with its South Korean ally.

The visit will be Kim's the third in recent months to China, North Korea's main ally and key source of trade and assistance. — AP