North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China. Photo / AP
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China. Photo / AP
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed a commitment to denuclearisation during his first summit with China's leader Xi Jinping, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reports.
A Xinhua news agency report also says Kim expressed his willingness to meet with the US.
Beijing earlier confirmed that the North Korean leader made his first foreign trip since taking power to Beijing. Yonhap said that Kim visited China at the invitation of President Xi.
According to Xinhua, Kim said: "It is our consistent stance to be committed to denuclearisation on the peninsula."
He added: "The issue of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the US respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realisation of peace."
Xi held talks with Kim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and he and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a banquet for Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju, Xinhua said.
They also watched an art performance together.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, second from right, and his wife Peng Liyuan, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with his wife Ri Sol Ju, left, in Beijing. Photo / AP
Chinese President Xi Jinping, fourth from left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second from right, meet at the Great hall of the People. Photo / AP
Analysts say Kim would have felt a need to consult his country's traditional ally ahead of his planned meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae In and US President Donald Trump.
The visit was Kim's first known journey abroad since he assumed power in 2011 and is believed by analysts to serve as preparation for upcoming summits with South Korea and the United States.
North Korea's state news agency reported that Kim invited Xi to Pyongyang and the Chinese President accepted.
The short trip saw a North Korean train enter China on Monday but was otherwise cloaked in secrecy. The train looked like one used by Kim's father, former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
Experts I’ve talked to give Trump/admin credit for sanctions and other pressure on North Korea over 14 months. But seems like Kim is taking summit prep more seriously or is certainly more focused on it and has more integrated strategy than Trump. https://t.co/SoGbno7OqA
It would be deft foreign policy on the part of both North Korea and China were the potential North Korea summit with the U.S. take place in China, hosted by Xi. And as options go, it is hard to imagine another that is more likely.
Wow, so I guess we have a whole parallel summit process. North Korea is an expert at playing countries off of each other. Hope this is constructive. #DPRK
The North's diplomatic outreach came after an unusually provocative year when it conducted its most powerful nuclear test to date and three ICBMs tests designed to target the US mainland.
The developments were interpreted as the North being desperate to break out of isolation and improve its economy after being squeezed by heavy sanctions.
China remains North Korea's only major ally and chief provider of energy, aid and trade that keep the country's broken economy afloat.
The visit to China marks Kim's first known trip since taking power in 2011 and his reported meeting with Xi was his first meeting with a foreign head of state.
Kim's father, late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, visited China several times during his rule, lastly in May 2011, months before his death.
Past visits by Kim Jong Il to China were surrounded in secrecy, with Beijing only confirming his presence after he had crossed the border by train back into North Korea.
Heavily armed police guard an area outside a train station ahead of the arrival of a convoy in Beijing, China.
A motorcade, foreground, arrives at Beijing Railway Station in Beijing.
