[Anchor]
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a surprise visit to Dandong, China, where he was greeted by China's No. 4 official. Analysts suggest that diplomatic norms between North Korea and China have been broken, as this marks the first time Kim traveled to China without meeting President Xi Jinping.
Beijing correspondent Han Sang-woo reports.
[Reporter]
A vehicle carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un enters Dandong via the New Yalu River Bridge.
When Kim and his entourage arrive in front of the Monument to the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, which commemorates China's entry into the Korean War, Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and China's No. 4 official, greets him.
Foreign policy heavyweights turned out in full force, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Liu Haixing, head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee.
[China CCTV Broadcast: This visit plays a role in inheriting traditional friendship between the two countries, strengthening public support, deepening political mutual trust, and promoting cooperative development.]
Upon his return, officials from both countries got out of their cars at the midpoint of the New Yalu River Bridge to send Kim off on foot.
Assessments indicate that ongoing North Korea-China diplomatic customs were broken during this visit.
This is the first time Kim returned without meeting President Xi Jinping. In May 2018, when North Korea-U.S. dialogue was gaining rapid momentum, President Xi even traveled to Dalian in the northeast to meet Kim.
This time, he was received only by Wang Huning, chairman of the CPPCC, who ranks fourth in the Chinese leadership.
This is considered unusual even when considering that President Xi would find it difficult to leave Beijing ahead of the Fifth Plenary Session, one of China's biggest political events.
A South Korean government official also stated that it was expected Kim would meet Premier Li Qiang if not the No. 1 leader, and acknowledged that several diplomatic exceptions did occur.
Some analysts suggest that the visit was a strategic decision by North Korea to display its close ties with China in order to gain leverage in North Korea-U.S. negotiations.
(Video Editing: Jung Sung-hoon, Design: Seo Hyun-jung)
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