North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may have conveyed Pyongyang's position on potential talks with the United States during his recent visit to China, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday, the Yonhap news agency reported.
Source: Yonhap via Korean-Vibe
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) made the assessment during a closed-door parliamentary intelligence committee audit at its headquarters in Seoul, according to Representative Youn Kun-young of the ruling Democratic Party and Representative Yoo Yeong-ha of the main opposition People Power Party, the committee's two liaison lawmakers.
Source: Korea JoongAng Daily
Kim made a one-day trip to the Chinese border city of Dandong on Saturday, October 24, crossing the newly opened New Yalu River Bridge, meeting China's top political adviser Wang Huning and visiting a memorial to Chinese troops from the 1950-53 Korean War, on the eve of the 76th anniversary of China's entry into that war. Read the earlier story
Diplomats, not generals
The NIS pointed to who travelled with Kim as the strongest clue. His entourage was made up largely of senior diplomats — including Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, who was repeatedly seen in a leading role during the trip — rather than military officials, an odd fit for a visit whose stated purpose was commemorating China's role in the Korean War. China, too, fielded mainly diplomatic officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the agency noted. Kim was received by Wang Huning rather than Premier Li Qiang, who had initially been expected; the NIS said the change was due to scheduling issues.
Source: Seoul Economic Daily
The agency assessed that Kim had learned something about US President Donald Trump's thinking during Trump's June summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and that Xi may have conveyed Trump's thinking to Kim in some form. Kim may then have used the Dandong visit to relay his own position on talks with Washington to the Chinese side. The NIS stressed, however, that it does not believe Kim gave China a confirmation that he would definitely hold talks with the United States, and it said it would take time to determine exactly what Kim conveyed.
On China's possible role, the agency was cautious: Beijing could gently convey Kim's stance to Washington, but it does not appear to intend to mediate actively between Pyongyang and Washington. The NIS added that North Korea and the United States have yet to narrow their differences over the conditions for dialogue, while leaving open the possibility of a shift around the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November.
This is an intelligence assessment reported by lawmakers after a closed-door briefing — not a confirmed account of what Kim said in Dandong. Neither Pyongyang, Beijing nor Washington has confirmed that any message about US talks was passed during the visit.
What is solid
- The NIS told a closed-door parliamentary audit on Thursday that Kim's China trip may have had a purpose beyond Korean War commemoration, according to the two lawmakers who briefed reporters
- Kim's Dandong entourage was led by diplomats including Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui rather than military officials, and China's side also fielded senior diplomats including Wang Yi
- The NIS said North Korea and the US have not yet narrowed their differences over conditions for dialogue
What is only claimed
- Whether Kim actually conveyed a position on US talks during the Dandong visit — the NIS presents this as an assessment based on the delegation's composition, not as a confirmed fact
- Whether China will play any active role between Pyongyang and Washington — the NIS says active mediation looks unlikely