State news agency confirms landmark meeting between North Korean leader and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Chinese capital
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has pledged to President Xi Jinping that he will follow through the wishes of his father and grandfather and denuclearise the Korean peninsula.
The leader of the reclusive state made the remarks during a trip to China, his first overseas visit since he became North Korea’s leader, according to the state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Kim, the third generation of his family to lead his country, said the situation on the Korean peninsula was improving and that his government has taken steps to ease tensions, Xinhua reported.
Kim added that if the US and South Korea were willing to respond to North Korea’s efforts with sincerity the nuclear issue “can be solved”.
“Our unswerving stance is that we will make efforts towards the denuclearisation of the peninsula,” Kim was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
President Xi pledged to work with North Korea to achieve denuclearisation.
“China is willing to continue to make a constructive impact on the Korean peninsula problem,” President Xi said. He called upon all sides to solve the problem through dialogue, Xinhua reported.
Kim’s visit to China came just days before a planned meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and ahead of a possible summit with US President Donald Trump.
Tensions have risen on Korean peninsula after North Korea has increased nuclear weapons tests.
