China's Xi expected to visit Friendship Tower in Pyeongyang, have additional summit with Kim Jong-un
- 5 years ago
Chinese President Xi Jinping is on the second and final day of his state visit to North Korea.
For what we expect to happen today, we have our Oh Jung-hee on the line, joining us from Seoul's unification ministry.
Jung-hee, do we have a sense of what President Xi and Chairman Kim are up to, as we speak?
No, Connyoung, not at this point.
We are not receiving any updates from North Korea, so we are not sure what the leaders are up to at the moment.
But we do have a rough idea of what Chinese President Xi Jinping will do today.
He's expected to pay tribute to the North Korea-China Friendship Tower in Pyeongyang.
The tower was built in 1959 to commemorate Chinese soldiers who died fighting in the Korean War.
China’s high-level government officials have often visited the tower when visiting the North, including Xi Jinping himself in 2008 when he was China's Vice President.
North Korea's Kim Jong-un and President Xi may also have more summit talks today along with a luncheon.
If they do, the topics would be mainly be about their bilateral ties and Korean Peninsula issues.
As with their previous four summits when Kim Jong-un visited China, the two leaders have continued their summit into the following day.
We will have to keep our eyes fixed on that then.
Jung-hee, the North's state-run media also released reports this morning about the fifth Kim-Xi summit.
How did Pyeongyang portray the meeting?
The North's Korean Central News Agency put a lot of emphasis on Xi's visit, saying it's a (quote)"critical opportunity to show off their unchangeable and undefeatable friendship."
But the report did not provide any detailed remarks from the two leaders, only laying out what they discussed in general.
It said the leaders broadly exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula and other issues... and agreed that developing bilateral ties further is in their mutual interest.
They also agreed to deepen strategic communication as well as various other exchanges.
The report added the two leaders shared plans to meaningfully celebrate 70 years of their diplomatic ties this year.
Connyoung, that's all I have for now, but I'll bring you more updates during our later newscasts.
Back to you.
For what we expect to happen today, we have our Oh Jung-hee on the line, joining us from Seoul's unification ministry.
Jung-hee, do we have a sense of what President Xi and Chairman Kim are up to, as we speak?
No, Connyoung, not at this point.
We are not receiving any updates from North Korea, so we are not sure what the leaders are up to at the moment.
But we do have a rough idea of what Chinese President Xi Jinping will do today.
He's expected to pay tribute to the North Korea-China Friendship Tower in Pyeongyang.
The tower was built in 1959 to commemorate Chinese soldiers who died fighting in the Korean War.
China’s high-level government officials have often visited the tower when visiting the North, including Xi Jinping himself in 2008 when he was China's Vice President.
North Korea's Kim Jong-un and President Xi may also have more summit talks today along with a luncheon.
If they do, the topics would be mainly be about their bilateral ties and Korean Peninsula issues.
As with their previous four summits when Kim Jong-un visited China, the two leaders have continued their summit into the following day.
We will have to keep our eyes fixed on that then.
Jung-hee, the North's state-run media also released reports this morning about the fifth Kim-Xi summit.
How did Pyeongyang portray the meeting?
The North's Korean Central News Agency put a lot of emphasis on Xi's visit, saying it's a (quote)"critical opportunity to show off their unchangeable and undefeatable friendship."
But the report did not provide any detailed remarks from the two leaders, only laying out what they discussed in general.
It said the leaders broadly exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula and other issues... and agreed that developing bilateral ties further is in their mutual interest.
They also agreed to deepen strategic communication as well as various other exchanges.
The report added the two leaders shared plans to meaningfully celebrate 70 years of their diplomatic ties this year.
Connyoung, that's all I have for now, but I'll bring you more updates during our later newscasts.
Back to you.