Kim Jong-un on a Visit to Beijing, met with the Chinese President

Source: Twitter

China has confirmed that the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has visited Beijing, where he met the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and pledged his commitment to denuclearising the Korean peninsula.

Confirming several reports over the last two days, Xinhua state news agency said Kim had been in China on an "unofficial visit" from Sunday to Wednesday.

According to Xinhua, Kim told Xi the situation on the Korean peninsula was "starting to get better". He said: "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."

Kim added that the issue of denuclearisation could be resolved if South Korea and the US "respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability".

After years of provocations and missile tests, Pyongyang has made an unexpected effort in diplomacy recently. Kim's sister, Kim Yo-jong, led a delegation to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, last month that led to direct talks with South Korea.

Kim is expected to meet with the South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, in April and hold a summit with the US president, Donald Trump, possibly in May. On his visit to Beijing, Kim reportedly said he was willing to "have dialogue" with the US.

"This is a positive political signal that Pyongyang is ready for more dialogue," said Michael Kovrig, senior adviser for north-east Asia at the International Crisis Group, an independent conflict-prevention organisation.

"But the challenge will be creating the trust and conditions under which Kim would actually feel secure enough to denuclearise, while remaining vigilant on proliferation and deterrence. That won't be easy."

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