North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a northern Chinese port city and pledged his continuing commitment to denuclearization ahead of his expected summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, state media said Tuesday.
In this photo taken between May 7 and 8, 2018 released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping, right speaks to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Dalian in northeastern China's Liaoning Province. (Ju Peng/Xinhua via AP)
The meeting Monday and Tuesday in Dalian is the second between Xi and Kim in recent weeks, following Kim's March visit to Beijing — his first since taking power six years ago.
In comments carried Tuesday night by Chinese state media, neither leader was quoted as directly referring to either the planned Trump meeting or Kim's summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in late last month.
However, state broadcaster CCTV quoted Xi as saying China "supports North Korea to stick to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and supports North Korea and the U.S. in solving the peninsula issue through dialogue and consultation."
Trump tweeted Tuesday that he planned to speak with Xi later in the day to discuss trade and North Korea, where he said "relationships and trust are building."
Kim was quoted as telling Xi that North Korea remains committed to denuclearization and has no need to possess nuclear weapons if a "relevant party" drops its "hostile policy and security threats" against it, a clear reference to the United States.
In this photo taken between May 7 and 8, 2018 released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, walks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a meeting in Dalian in northeastern China's Liaoning Province. (Ju Peng/Xinhua via AP)
"I hope to build mutual trust with the U.S. through dialogue," Kim was quoted as saying. A political resolution of tensions on the peninsula and denuclearization should proceed in stages, with all sides moving in concert, he said. The Trump administration has demanded that North Korea immediately commit to denuclearization.
The Kim-Xi meeting was the top news story in North Korea, with its most famous television announcer, Ri Chun Hui, again called out of her semi-retirement to report the event, underscoring its importance. Ri, wearing a traditional Korean-style dress, often smiled as she reported the news.
The report, which lasted about 20 minutes, did not show any photos or video of the visit.
Kim was accompanied by his younger sister, who has taken on an increasingly public role as the North Korean leader has tried to present a "softer" face to the outside world.
A passenger plane which is reportedly used for North Korean high-ranking officials, takes off from an airport in Dalian, China Tuesday, May 8, 2018. (Minoru Iwasaki/Kyodo News via AP)
North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said there was a "deep exchange of opinions" between Kim and Xi on the changes around the Korean Peninsula that are "drawing the world's eyes and ears."
Kim offered his views on how North Korea and China would "firmly grasp the strategic opportunity," it said.
Though rumors are likely widespread, North Korea's media still have not explicitly confirmed the expected summit with Trump.
The recent South Korean summit and the potential U.S. talks have received more attention internationally, but China's role as an economic lifeline for North Korea makes the talks between Xi and Kim all the more crucial.
CORRECTS SECOND SENTENCE - A North Korea's Air Koryo plane lands in an airport in Dalian, China, Tuesday, May 8, 2018. (Minoru Iwasaki/Kyodo News via AP)
Kim needs to make sure that whatever negotiations he has with Trump align to some degree with Beijing's positions, which could certainly complicate his task ahead.
China's official Xinhua News Agency said Xi hosted a welcome banquet for Kim on Monday and the two leaders strolled along the coastline at a government guesthouse and had lunch together on Tuesday.
"At a crucial time when the regional situation is developing rapidly, Kim said he came to China again to meet with (Xi) and inform him of the situation," Xinhua said.
CCTV showed Xi wearing a western business suit and Kim in his standard high-collared Mao suit. They stood on a beach, sat under an awning on an outdoor deck, strolled through lush gardens and sat at a conference table.
"In a cordial and friendly atmosphere, the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries had an all-round and in-depth exchange of views on China-DPRK relations and major issues of common concern," Xinhua said, using the initials for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
China is North Korea's only major ally, although trade has plummeted in recent months as Beijing enforces United Nations economic sanctions in response to the North's nuclear bomb and ballistic missile tests.
China has also been eager to assert its importance in the process of lowering tensions on the Korean Peninsula. It has called for a halt to weapons tests and large-scale military exercises and a return to six-nation denuclearization talks it previously hosted in Beijing.
It was not known how long the Xi-Kim meeting had been planned or why Dalian was chosen. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post newspaper cited two unidentified sources as saying that Xi had flown to Dalian on the coast east of Beijing to preside over the official launch of sea trials for China's first entirely self-built aircraft carrier.
Chinese internet users posting on social media described heavy security in the city and extensive flight delays on Monday. Others said they spotted a set of Red Flag limousines used by state leaders.
As with Kim's March visit to Beijing, his presence in Dalian was not officially confirmed until he had left China. Reports said his jet flew out of Dalian airport on Tuesday afternoon.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attacked the United States for earlier blocking United Nations resolutions calling for a cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting with his counterpart in Indonesia.
The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers reiterated their countries' calls for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of Israel's ongoing war against Hamas.
The U.S., together with Egypt and Qatar, brokered a brief cease-fire earlier in the war that included some swaps of hostages taken by Hamas and other militant groups in return for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and has sought to bring about a new deal.
But the U.S. vetoed a number of proposed U.N. Security Council cease-fire resolutions because they didn’t tie the calls directly to the release of Israel hostages or condemn Hamas’ attack that prompted the war before allowing a resolution to a pass with an abstention in late March.
The meeting took place on the second day of a six-day tour during which Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will also visit Papua New Guinea and Cambodia.
Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi told reporters that the two countries share the same view about the importance of a cease-fire and of resolving the Palestinian problem through a two-state solution.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinians and does not recognize Israel.
“I am sure that China would use its influence to prevent escalation,” Marsudi said, adding that China and Indonesia "would also fully support Palestine’s membership in the U.N.”
Wang blamed the United States for holding up cease-fire resolutions at the U.N.
“The conflict in Gaza has lasted for half a year and caused a rare humanitarian tragedy in the 21st century. The United Nations Security Council responded to the call of the international community and continued to review the resolution draft on the cease-fire in Gaza, but it was repeatedly vetoed by the United States,” Wang told reporters.
American officials have argued that the cease-fire and hostage releases are linked, while Russia, China and many other council members favored unconditional calls for a cease-fire. China and Russia also vetoed one U.S.-backed cease-fire resolution, saying it was not strong enough.
Referring to the resolution that was approved by the Security Council in March, Wang said: “This time, the U.S. did not dare to stand in opposition to international morality and chose to abstain. However, the U.S. claimed that this resolution was not binding," Wang said. “In the eyes of the United States, international law seems to be a tool that can be used whenever it finds useful and discarded if it does not want to use it.”
The two ministers also discussed their countries' economic relationship and the South China Sea.
China is Indonesia’s largest trading partner, with the trade volume reaching more than $127 billion. China is also one of Indonesia's largest foreign investors, with investment flows of more than $7.4 billion in 2023.
Later Thursday, Wang also met Indonesian President Joko Widodo and president-elect Prabowo Subianto, who is currently defense minister.
Indonesian President-elect and current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, left, greets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of the ongoing war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Indonesian President-elect and current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, left, stands next to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as Wang signs a guest book in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim/Pool)
In this photo provided by the Indonesian Presidential Palace, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, talks with Indonesia President Joko Widodo during a meeting at the palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of Israel's ongoing war against Hamas. (Vico/Indonesian Presidential Palace via AP)
In this photo provided by the Indonesian Presidential Palace, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi , left, shakes hands with Indonesia President Joko Widodo during a meeting at the palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of Israel's ongoing war against Hamas. (Vico/Indonesian Presidential Palace via AP)
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi gestures as she speaks during a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of the ongoing war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives for a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, right, shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their bilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi gestures as he speaks during his bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, left, speaks during their bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, second right, speaks during a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, bottom second left, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, walks with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during their bilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)
