Kim Jong-un's 'day trip' visit to China... Meeting with Wang Huning, ranked 4th in rank, in Dandong (Comprehensive 3rd step)

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un made a surprise visit to China without notice on the 24th and met with Wang Huning, chairman of the National People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), who ranks fourth in China's power hierarchy.

It has been Chairman Kim's first visit to China in about a year since September of last year, and it is known that he returned home on the same day after completing a one-day trip without a separate meeting with President Xi Jinping.

A government source told Yonhap News on this day, “Chairman Kim arrived in Dandong, Liaoning Province, China, via the New Yalu River Bridge.”

China's official Xinhua News Agency also reported that President Wang Huning welcomed Chairman Kim, who visited Dandong, at the Square of the Anti-American and Assistance Memorial Hall and carried out his schedule.

Rep. Yoon Geon-young of the Democratic Party of Korea, the ruling party's secretary on the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee, initially announced to the media that "It has been confirmed that Chairman Kim met with Premier Li Chang of the State Council," who is China's second-highest ranking official, but then corrected the statement, saying, "It has been confirmed that he did not meet Premier Li Chang, but President Wang Huning."

Regarding the reason for the correction in the press notice, Rep. Yoon explained, "We received an additional report (from the National Intelligence Service) that it was initially planned that Prime Minister Li Chang would visit, but it was discovered that this had been changed."

Chairman Kim's visit to China took place ahead of the anniversary of China's participation in the Korean War on the 25th. The Chinese military designated October 25, the day it achieved its first victory in the Korean War, as the anniversary of its anti-American assistance (against the United States and aiding North Korea).

Chairman Kim said on this day, "I visited Dandong this time to commemorate the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army who supported North Korea with their lives and blood during an important historical period, and to express North Korea's sincere gratitude and eternal respect for the heroes of anti-American aid and resistance," indirectly explaining that the purpose of the visit to China was to commemorate the anniversary of anti-American aid.

In addition, he pointed out that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the North Korea-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, and emphasized, "We are grateful to China for its long-time support and assistance in North Korea's socialist work, and the prospects for cooperation between the two sides are very broad."

According to Xinhua News Agency, Chairman Kim visited the Anti-USA and Aid Monument with President Wang to lay flowers, and after touring the Anti-USA and Aid Memorial Hall, he presented a historical photo with a handwritten inscription to the memorial.

Afterwards, he visited an automobile factory in Dandong with President Wang, inspected the production workshop, and left Dandong after being seen off by President Wang at the New Yalu River Bridge.

According to a video broadcast on China Central Television (CCTV)'s representative news program 'Xinwen Lianbo', North Korea's Workers' Party Director Kim Yo-jong, Foreign Minister Choe Son-hee, and Workers' Party Secretary Cho Yong-won were present at the meeting. On the Chinese side, Wang Yi, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Liu Haixing, Director of the External Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China, attended.

Chairman Kim's visit to China is one year and one month since he visited Beijing last September to attend the 80th anniversary of China's victory in the Anti-Japanese War (Victory Day) and his sixth visit since taking office.

Unless he had a private meeting with President Xi during this visit, this is the first time Chairman Kim has visited China and returned without meeting President Xi.

This appears to reflect the fact that the main goal is to expand economic cooperation with the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge rather than a political agenda. It is also possible that the fact that President Xi is preparing for the 5th plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (the 5th plenary session of the 20th Central Committee), a major political event next week, may also have been taken into consideration.

The New Yalu Bridge, which served as Chairman Kim's travel route, is a four-lane, 3,026m long bridge connecting Dandong, the largest trade hub between North Korea and China, and Sinuiju, North Pyongan Province.

Official traffic was delayed due to North Korea's lack of connecting roads and customs clearance facilities, but it was officially opened 12 years after completion with the restoration of North Korea-China relations. This is the first time that Chairman Kim's local inspection has been made known.

As both North Korea and China emphasized 'economic linkage' and 'common interests' through state-run media regarding the significance of the opening of the bridge, it was predicted that economic and trade exchanges between the two countries would become more active in the future.

It can be analyzed that the intention is to reaffirm the blood alliance between the two countries, which has been strengthened as a 'strategic relationship', by showing Chairman Kim heading directly to China through the New Yalu River Bridge around the traditional anniversary between North Korea and China.

Chairman Kim's visit to China also attracts attention because it took place while U.S. President Donald Trump was promoting a North Korea-US summit on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Chairman Kim has a history of visiting China for the purpose of coordinating positions and securing diplomatic support ahead of the first and second North Korea-US summits in 2018-19.

There is also an interpretation that Chairman Kim, whose death has recently been circulating mainly on overseas social media, was showing off his health.

North Korea dismissed rumors of his death by releasing images of Chairman Kim visiting a light industry exhibition hall and a map of a large-scale military event on the 20th and today.