- Chinese President Xi Jinping was reportedly set to visit North Korea , marking his first trip to the country in seven years, following recent meetings with Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
- South Korea anticipated that Mr Xi's visit would aim to facilitate renewed talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump.
- The potential visit underscores North Korea's efforts to strengthen ties with China and Russia, expanding cooperation into military exchanges.
- Beijing's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, visited Pyongyang last month to discuss safeguarding security and deepening coordination on international issues.
- If the visit proceeded, discussions between Mr Xi and Mr Kim were expected to focus heavily on potential talks with the US, which North Korea has previously rejected without preconditions.
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