By <font color="#0070c0">Xu Aiying </font>and <font color="#0070c0">Kim Young Shin</font>

North Korea’s Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un visited Dalian, Liaoning Province, China, on May 7 and 8 to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the planned North Korea-U.S. summit.

China’s Xinhua News Agency reported on May 8 that the two leaders met on May 8 and spoke about the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

“Chairman Kim said that North Korea has kept a consistent and clear stance regarding the realization of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula,” said Xinhua in an article titled “Xi Jinping meets Chairman Kim Jong Un in Dalian.” It said that the North Korean leader said that, “When the related nations remove their hostile policies and threats against the North, North Korea will no longer need to keep nuclear weapons, and denuclearization can come true.”

According to Xinhua, Chairman Kim said, “I wish that mutual trust can be built through dialogue between North Korea and the U.S., with the related parties simultaneously taking responsible actions step-by-step, and finally bringing denuclearization and lasting peace to the Korean Peninsula.”

“Under the collective endeavors of each nation, dialogue about the Korean Peninsula is heading toward an easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula and toward a political solution,” said the Chinese president. “China supports North Korea’s willingness to denuclearize and to solve issues on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and negotiation with the U.S.”

“I expect active dedication from North Korea to work together with other countries for the development of peaceful solutions for issues on the Korean Peninsula, and to settle a permanent peace across the region,” Xi said.

Kim visited China accompanied by Vice Chairmen Ri Su Yong and Kim Yong Chol, and First Vice Department Director Kim Yo Jong of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, and Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. It has been 40 days since the North Korean leader last visited China, on March 26 and 27.

“Communication and building trust among the leaders of neighboring countries helps bring forward the realization of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, especially now when the region is going through a historic shift,” said Korea's Unification Ministry Spokesperson Baik Tae Hyun regarding the North Korea-China meeting. “This will contribute to building a permanent and steady peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

xuaiy@korea.kr