By Takuya Karube,
A special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday wrapped up his four-day visit to North Korea after agreeing with top officials to foster cooperative relations, at a time when the international community is trying to convince Pyongyang to give up its nuclear and missile programs.
It was not immediately known whether Song Tao, head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Department, had met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Official media of the two countries also had no reports on their meeting.
Song held talks with Choe Ryong Hae, a vice chairman of the Workers' Party who is known as the right-hand man of Kim, on Friday and Ri Su Yong, the country's top official in charge of foreign affairs, on Saturday.
Chinese special envoy meets N. Korea's top diplomat
China's special envoy meets closest aide of N. Korean leader
U.S., China vow to keep sanctions on N. Korea until it denuclearizes
After the meeting with Ri, the official Korean Central News Agency said they discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula, regional affairs and bilateral issues.
China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Monday that during Song's visit both sides pledged to bolster inter-party exchanges and coordination, and advance relations between the two countries.
It also said Song discussed issues related to the peninsula with "leaders" of the Workers' Party.
Song's visit attracted international attention as it came amid a two-month pause in North Korea's weapons testing, and about a week after U.S. President Donald Trump and Xi agreed to intensify efforts toward achieving the denuclearization of the peninsula.
It was the first known visit by a high-ranking Chinese official to North Korea since October last year.
Ahead of Song's trip, Trump characterized it as a "big move" in a Twitter post and said that "we will see what happens!"
Chinese official newspapers, however, downplayed high expectations for his trip.
The Global Times, an influential tabloid affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, said in an editorial on Saturday that Song is "not a magician."
"The key to easing the situation on the peninsula lies in the hands of Washington and Pyongyang," it said. "If both sides insist on their own logic and refuse to move in the same direction, even if Song opens a door for talks, the door could be closed anytime."
China had said the main objective of his visit was to inform North Korea of the outcome of the ruling party's twice-a-decade congress held late last month.
Before leaving for Beijing, a delegation led by Song was seen off by Ri Chang Gun, a vice department director of the North Korean ruling party, and others including Chinese Ambassador Li Jinjun.
Upon his arrival at a VIP section of Beijing's international airport, Song was also greeted by North Korean Ambassador Ji Jae Ryong.
In addition to meeting with the top officials, Song visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the embalmed bodies of the two past North Korean leaders lie in state, and other historical sites.
"We express deep yearning for Comrades Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the great leaders of the Korean people and close friends of the Chinese people," KCNA quoted a message written by Song in the visitor's book at the mausoleum as saying.
