Xi Jinping has secret meeting with Kim Jong-un in China

CHINESE President Xi Jinping has met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in northern China as the US Secretary of State travels in North Korea to plan a proposed summit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, walks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a meeting in Dalian in northeastern China's Liaoning Province. Picture: AP

CHINESE President Xi Jinping has met with Kim Jong-un in northern China.

The Sun reports that the North Korea leader flew to Dalian ahead of a planned US summit with US President Donald Trump.

Mr Trump announced that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was en route to North Korea to plan a historic summit.

US officials say Mr Pompeo will also press North Korea for the release of three detained American citizens, whose imminent release Trump has been hinting at.

His trip comes just days after North Korea expressed displeasure with Washington for comments suggesting Kim’s willingness to meet Mr Trump is due to massive US pressure.

“Plans are being made, relationships are building, hopefully a deal will happen and with the help of China, South Korea and Japan a future of great prosperity and security can be achieved for everyone,” Mr Trump said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, right speaks to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Dalian in northeastern China's Liaoning Province. Picture: AP

Kim was spotted having a stroll by the sea with Mr Xi during his second visit to China since March.

During yesterday’s visit to China, Kim reportedly told Mr Xi: “As long as relevant parties eliminate the hostile policy and security threats against North Korea, North Korea does not need to have nuclear weapons, and denuclearisation is achievable.”

I will be speaking to my friend, President Xi of China, this morning at 8:30. The primary topics will be Trade, where good things will happen, and North Korea, where relationships and trust are building.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 8, 2018

Mr Trump tweeted about the visit after months of mounting tensions over the Secret State’s nuclear weapons testing.

He said: “I will be speaking to my friend, President Xi of China, this morning at 8:30.

China's President Xi Jinping (L) and US President Donald Trump. Picture: AFP

“The primary topics will be trade, where good things will happen, and North Korea, where relationships and trust are building.”

Kim made a secret visit to Beijing just weeks ago where he confirmed his regime was “committed to denuclearisation”.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Picture: AP

It comes after Kim’s met rival South Korean President Moon Jae-in for historic face-to-face talks in the South.

The two heads of state had “serious, frank” discussions on the topic of denuclearising the peninsula during the first meeting on southern soil in more than six decades.

A summit is now planned between Mr Trump and Kim but no date has been confirmed.

China's President Xi Jinping (2nd R), his wife Peng Liyuan (R), North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (2nd L) and his wife Ri Sol Ju (L). Picture: AFP

China is North Korea’s only major ally but trade has plummeted recently after Beijing enforced UN economic sanctions following the regime’s ballistics missile tests.

According to China’s official Xinhua agency, Mr Xi told Kim of his support for talks between North Korea and the US.

He said: “After the first meeting between me and Comrade Chairman (Kim), both China-DPRK relations and the Korean peninsula situation have made positive progress. I feel happy about it.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and is republished here with permission