June 20, 2019

The Korean peninsula and North Korea's denuclearisation progress are expected to figure large during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to North Korea today, Chinese experts said.

Though Beijing has emphasised the trip is to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and North Korea and to look at ways for the close neighbours to deepen ties, the surprise visit comes less than a fortnight before Mr Xi's planned meeting with United States President Donald Trump at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka.

Denuclearisation talks between the US and North Korea have stalled since both sides failed to reach a deal at their leaders' summit talks in Hanoi in February.

Read:

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/xis-pyongyang-visit-may-help-revive-denuclearisation-talks