▲ Cheong Wa Dae
Cheong Wa Dae stated today (October 24) that it is "closely monitoring related developments" following reports of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's surprise visit to China.
A Cheong Wa Dae official said, "At this stage, where there has been no official announcement from either North Korea or China, we are keeping various possibilities in mind."
Chairman Kim reportedly visited Dandong in China's Liaoning Province, which borders North Korea, and met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Kim is widely expected to return home immediately after concluding his visit to China on the same day.
While awaiting official announcements from both sides regarding Kim's visit to China, Cheong Wa Dae is analyzing his specific intentions based on relevant intelligence.
First, some analyze that the visit is intended to show off closer ties between North Korea and China following the recent opening of the New Yalu River Bridge.
It is also notable that this visit comes a month ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in China next month.
U.S. President Donald Trump previously mentioned that he could meet Kim on the sidelines of the APEC summit, leading some to interpret this as a positive sign regarding U.S.-North Korea talks, which have reportedly seen little progress.
However, as it has not been confirmed that Kim met directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping, some note that overinterpretation should be cautioned against.
Furthermore, as North Korea has recently issued hard-line messages against South Korea several times in the name of Workers' Party Vice Department Director Kim Yo-jong, Cheong Wa Dae is expected to prudently keep a close eye on the situation for the time being while watching for further signs.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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