Top DPRK leader's envoy visits China

BEIJING - Wang Jiarui, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with the special envoy of Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) here Wednesday.

Wang, who is vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met with Choe Ryong Hae, a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Choe left Pyongyang by air earlier Wednesday morning.

Choe Ryong-hae, also director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army (KPA), was accompanied by KPA Col. Gen. Ri Yong-gil, Vice-Department Director of the WPK Central Committee Kim Song-nam, Vice-Foreign Minister Kim Hyong-jun and KPA Lieut. Gen. Kim Su-gil.

It is the first time that a DPRK envoy visits China since Kim took power after his father Kim Jong-il died in December 2011.

The visit comes as ROK President Park Geun-hye is expected to visit Beijing next month.