ID :
119916
Mon, 05/03/2010 - 07:13
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/119916
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N. Korea`s Kim likely to visit China soon: diplomatic sources+
BEIJING, May 2 Kyodo -
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is expected to make a trip to China soon,
several diplomatic sources in Beijing said Sunday.
The sources speculate Kim may arrive in Beijing as soon as Monday or Tuesday.
Earlier Sunday, the South Korean news agency Yonhap in a dispatch from Seoul
quoted a South Korean government source as saying, ''The North's leader has not
crossed into China yet, but it appears highly likely that his Chinese trip
would come either today or tomorrow as a considerable level of preparations
have been done.''
The source offered no further details but the news agency reported he is
expected to seek aid for the North's deteriorating economy.
Yonhap also quoted an unnamed official at the South Korean foreign ministry as
saying the ministry also expects Kim to visit China soon.
''We have seen some signs (of a trip) and we are now closely monitoring the
situation,'' it quoted the official as saying.
It quoted a diplomatic source in China as saying a hotel near the projected
border-crossing Kim would pass if he arrived in China by train has been ordered
to evict guests and cancel reservations.
''We have been ordered not to take any reservations through May 3 by the city
of Dandong. We will accept reservations after May 4,'' said a hotel source,
adding reasons for the order were unclear.
Security in the border city, Dandong, has also reportedly been beefed up while
Yonhap reported signs for increasing the security have not been observed yet as
of Sunday afternoon.
Sources familiar with China-North Korean relations initially said Kim's visit
to China, which had been discussed to be set around the end of April and early
May, was postponed indefinitely.
If Kim visits China within the next two days, Beijing and Pyongyang could have
renegotiated the timeframe along with the return of Chinese President Hu Jintao
and other top leaders from the opening ceremony for the Shanghai World Expo and
other events.
Kim last visited China in 2006.
==Kyodo
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is expected to make a trip to China soon,
several diplomatic sources in Beijing said Sunday.
The sources speculate Kim may arrive in Beijing as soon as Monday or Tuesday.
Earlier Sunday, the South Korean news agency Yonhap in a dispatch from Seoul
quoted a South Korean government source as saying, ''The North's leader has not
crossed into China yet, but it appears highly likely that his Chinese trip
would come either today or tomorrow as a considerable level of preparations
have been done.''
The source offered no further details but the news agency reported he is
expected to seek aid for the North's deteriorating economy.
Yonhap also quoted an unnamed official at the South Korean foreign ministry as
saying the ministry also expects Kim to visit China soon.
''We have seen some signs (of a trip) and we are now closely monitoring the
situation,'' it quoted the official as saying.
It quoted a diplomatic source in China as saying a hotel near the projected
border-crossing Kim would pass if he arrived in China by train has been ordered
to evict guests and cancel reservations.
''We have been ordered not to take any reservations through May 3 by the city
of Dandong. We will accept reservations after May 4,'' said a hotel source,
adding reasons for the order were unclear.
Security in the border city, Dandong, has also reportedly been beefed up while
Yonhap reported signs for increasing the security have not been observed yet as
of Sunday afternoon.
Sources familiar with China-North Korean relations initially said Kim's visit
to China, which had been discussed to be set around the end of April and early
May, was postponed indefinitely.
If Kim visits China within the next two days, Beijing and Pyongyang could have
renegotiated the timeframe along with the return of Chinese President Hu Jintao
and other top leaders from the opening ceremony for the Shanghai World Expo and
other events.
Kim last visited China in 2006.
==Kyodo
