Kim commits to shedding nukes, says China after talks in Beijing

Kim Jong-un is “committed to the denuclearisation” of the Korean peninsula, China declared yesterday.

Kim Jong-un with his wife Ri Sol-ju, left, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Picture: AP

Kim Jong-un is “committed to the denuclearisation” of the Korean peninsula, China declared yesterday after the North Korean leader ended a secretive trip to Beijing.

In confirming yesterday that Kim and his wife had returned to Pyongyang in their armoured train after receiving lavish treatment, China said the North Korean leader had stressed his willingness to participate in a summit with the US, though without mentioning Donald Trump.

It appears the prime reason for Kim’s first foreign trip since he ­became leader in 2011 was to ­secure confidence that China, North Korea’s only ally, would act as undeclared guarantor of his hereditary regime if he dismantles his nuclear arsenal.

The US President said last night the meeting had gone “very well” and that Kim was eager to hold a summit with MrTrump.

“Received message last night from XI JINPING of China that his meeting with KIM JONG UN went very well and that KIM looks forward to his meeting with me,” Mr Trump tweeted. “In the meantime, and unfortunately, maximum sanctions and pressure must be maintained at all cost!”

Kim met China’s A team: President Xi Jinping, Vice-President Wang Qishan, top political adviser and Politburo Standing Committee member Wang Huning, as well as Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi.

Kim’s North Korean team included Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho and four vice-chairmen of the central committee of the party — organisation department director Choe Ryong-hae, propaganda and agitation department leader Pak Kwang-ho, international department head Ri Su-yong and intelligence chief Kim Yong-chol.

China welcomed Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, with its highest protocol arrangements. Mr Xi and his wife, Peng Li­yuan, hosted a banquet and theatrical performance for the North Koreans at the Great Hall of the People before a massive motorcade on closed roads went to the Diaoyutai state guesthouse, a cluster of mansions surrounded by lakes and gardens. The visitors were also shown an exhibition showcasing China’s “innovation” achievements under Mr Xi’s rule.

Xinhua news agency quoted Kim as saying: “It is our consistent stand to be committed to de­nuclearisation on the peninsula, in accordance with the will of late president Kim Il-sung and late general secretary Kim Jong-il” — his grandfather and father.

He said Pyongyang was determined to transform links with South Korea into a relationship of reconciliation and co-operation and hold a summit between the heads of the two sides. It was also willing to hold a dialogue and summit with the US, he said.

“The issue of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, and create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realisation of peace,” Kim said.

The South Korean government earlier said the summit would take place “by May”. Before this week’s trip, the most likely summit venue had been Panmunjom, straddling the border between North and South. But it is now possible Beijing may host the two countries.

Kim hoped “to enhance strategic communication with China during the process, jointly safeguarding the trend of consultation and dialogue as well as peace and stability on the peninsula”. To Kim, “stability” refers to the survival of his regime.

The US and South Korea are set to resume joint military exercises on Sunday. Their suspension, echoed by a suspension of nuclear bomb and missile tests by the North, was widely credited in the region with triggering Kim’s agreement to talk with Mr Trump.

It is likely that during this week’s talks in Beijing, Kim sought to persuade China — which urged the twin suspensions — to seek a relaxation of economic sanctions. But the Chinese reports contained no hint of such a request, or of any change of approach by Beijing.

Kim said he had “successful talks with General Secretary Xi Jinping on developing relations between the two parties and the two countries, our respective domestic situations”, and Korean peninsula issues. “In this spring full of happiness and hopes I believe this first meeting will yield abundant fruits,” he said. He stressed, in almost every remark, that this would “facilitate peace and stability on the Korean peninsula”.

Mr Xi said “we speak highly of this visit,” adding that he would welcome Kim and his wife “to visit China now and again”. South Korean news agency Yonhap said Mr Xi had accepted an invitation to visit North Korea.

Xinhua quoted Mr Xi as saying: “We agreed that carrying forward the traditional friendship between China and North Korea accords with the common interests of both sides, and is the common strategic choice of both sides.”

This would remain a firm bond, he said, “no matter how the international and regional situation changes”.

Analysts said Mr Xi probably wanted to see Kim to ensure North Korea did not cut a deal with Mr Trump that hurt Chinese interests. Beijing had appeared sidelined by Pyongyang’s approaches to Seoul and Washington, but Kim’s visit had put China back at the centre of the diplomatic game, they said.

“It shows that at this crucial juncture, Kim and Xi believed that it was time to seize the opportunity to consult,” said Bonnie Glaser, a China expert at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

“Both likely concluded that further deterioration in relations would be harmful,” she said.

Deng Yuwen, an independent Chinese international relations scholar, said North Korea needed to turn to its old ally ahead of the US summit, as Kim would be sceptical that Mr Trump would guarantee the security of his regime.

“North Korea needs the big brother to protect it at a crucial moment,” he said.

Additional reporting: Agencies