ANALYSIS: Kim’s secret visit to China sends a strong message to Trump ahead of their talks
Hong Kong — Kim Jong-un just sent a powerful message to US President Donald Trump ahead of planned talks: China is back on North Korea’s side. The North Korean leader and his wife received a warm welcome in his first trip abroad since taking power in 2011, holding talks with President Xi Jinping and meeting a host of dignitaries. Xi told Kim that China has made a "strategic choice" to have friendly ties with North Korea, and they would "remain unchanged under any circumstances". The surprise, highly secretive four-day trip ends a period of frosty ties between the longtime allies as China backed increasingly tough economic sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear and missile programmes. Xi avoided meeting Kim during his first five years in power, and the countries traded barbs with each other through state-run media. The shift ensures that China’s interests are protected during Kim’s planned summit with Trump, and gives North Korea an insurance policy if talks collapse. While t...
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