Kim, Xi Discuss 'Joint Research' on N.Korean Denuclearization

January 11, 2019 12:52

North Korean and Chinese state media both stressed the importance of China's role in denuclearization talks with North Korea as they reported on leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Beijing this week.

North Korean leader Kim Jung-un (second from left) and his wife Ri Sol-ju (left) join Chinese President Xi Jinping and first lady Peng Liyuan for lunch in Beijing on Wednesday, in this photo published by the North's official Rodong Sinmun daily.

The North's official Korean Central News Agency on Thursday claimed Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed "joint research and control" of the process of denuclearization talks. This suggests that Pyongyang is trying to use Beijing as leverage in talks with the U.S.

Chinese state media skipped that part and only quoted Xi as saying, "China will play a proactive and constructive role with the North and relevant countries."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un takes notes during a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Tuesday in Beijing in this grab from CCTV.

According to KCNA, Kim stressed the need to help ease U.S. sanctions against the North, citing concerns over denuclearization talks, and Xi called this "a rightful demand."

It added that Xi accepted Kim's invitation to the North, but Chinese media did not mention that part either.

Meanwhile, China's official CCTV aired footage of Kim writing down what Xi was saying as many as four times that day, apparently to suggest that North Korea remains some sort of vassal state to the Chinese empire.