Top North Korean Official Makes A Surprise Trip To China

Ri Su-yong, vice chairman of the North Korean ruling party's Central Committee, arrives at Pyongyang International Airport before departing for Beijing, Tuesday. / Yonhap

Reuters: Top North Korean official visits China: Kyodo

One of North Korea's highest-profile officials, career diplomat Ri Su Yong, will visit China on Tuesday, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.

Ri was the country's foreign minister until he was named a member of the politburo during the recent congress of the ruling Workers' Party.

Kyodo said his departure from Pyongyang's international airport was confirmed.

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Update #1: N. Korea leader's special envoy visits China (Korea Times)
Update #2: Top North Korean official makes surprise visit to China, with talks expected to focus on economic ties (South China Morning Post/AFP)

WNU Editor: This North Korean official is a very important member in Kim Jong-un's inner circle .... he watched over Kim Jung-un when he was attending school in Switzerland. Posting the above photo is also a surprise .... the North Koreans rarely permit pictures of their diplomats to be taken when they go abroad on a special trip. As for the visit itself .... this tells me that North Korea is worried about sanctions, and it looks like they have just convinced the Chinese that it is not in their interest to enforce the more stringent measures .... N. Korea, China agree to boost ties amid int'l sanctions (Korea Times).