Secrecy and Suspense: Kim Jong-Un’s Exotic Visit to China Leaves US Out in the Cold
The North Korean leader's Kim Jong-un's visit to China had lasted from last Sunday to this Wednesday. Everything looked very organic. Xi Jinping had welcomed his neighbor like an old friend. Their perfect-bodied wives acted like they've always dreamed of chatting. How does it feel like to be the wives of such important people on the planet? While the leaders talked behind closed doors about things others shouldn't know about, the armored train on which Kim Jong-un had arrived in Peking in was standing on a Chinese sidetrack.
Of course, Trump was watching this visit closely from across the sea. He loves television. Obviously, he made this meeting look like his own success. However, to be honest, it turned out kind of funny, since the White House will never find out what they talked about in Peking. Of course, they also talked about denuclearization — the prohibition of nuclear weapons. There is good news for the US from Peking. Kim Jong-un supports denuclearization, but only if the US, Russia, and China — all current East Asian nuclear nations, also prohibit nuclear weapons along with North Korea. Here's denuclearization for you, Kim Jong-un doesn't mind such terms. If Trump hasn't heard it yet, Kim Jong-un is prepared to make his position known to Trump in person. He's a tough guy.
Anastasia Sakhovskaya reports about the mystique and ease from Peking.
Each move is perfect. The Chinese greeting ceremony is very traditional. They greet leaders of all countries this way, but there was one peculiarity with this one. When it's warm, and it was +23℃ in Peking on Tuesday, it's usually held outside. Xi Jinping had greeted Kim Jong-un inside the Great Hall of the People, probably to fully convey the confidential tone of the visit.
"This train really resembles the North Korean task force".
Pictures of the train were captured on the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge. Here are the pictures of an impromptu barrier built by the train station in the border town of Dāndōng. Here's the platform. The Japanese media has figured it out by the yellow stripe. The former CPR leader, Kim Jong-il, who had suffered from aerophobia, had arrived on a similar train to Peking. According to rumors, his son prefers planes, but not this time. Here he is, in the same train car. You can see the draped windows. While on the road, he spoke with the head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the CPC. A red carpet and an honor guard were at the station. The North Koreans moved towards Peking without any identification marks, accompanied by the motorcycle police. Here's the special squad by the gates of the residence in the Diàoyútái province. This region was canvassed this week.
This is where part of negotiations between Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un took place. It's curious that 12 years ago, the current North Korean leader's father, Kim Jong-il, who had also arrived in Peking unannounced, was also welcomed here, and they also talked about renewing the North Korean nuclear program within the 6-party talk format, with participation of both Koreas, Russia, China, the US, and Japan, and about economic collaboration between Peking and Pyongyang.
This footage is from the residence garden. You can tell it's warm, in every sense of the word. The leaders shook each other's hands for a long time, but there was no traditional warm embrace. However, the traditions of their longstanding relationship and the previous generations' experiences were discussed several times during the meeting. Chinese media quotes the leaders' speeches almost word-for-word.
"The visit took place at a special time, and it meant a lot".
"This is North Korea's strategic choice — to pass along and develop our friendship with China when we need it, and it will remain this way under any circumstances".
It's not hard to guess what new circumstances Kim Jong-un was referring to. He hadn't visited China for 7 years, and there was tension between the two countries. As you can see on this footage, the North Korean leader was tense during this visit, unlike Xi Jinping, who was smiling and looked like he owned the situation. This way, Peking portrays its key role in the situation, as they listen to North Korea's opinion straight from the source, according to the experts. Also, Xi Jinping knows how to talk to Trump.
Right upon Kim Jong-un's return, diplomatic breakthroughs start happening one after another. A summit between the two Koreas will take place on April 27th, and a meeting with Trump might happen in May, with Japan offering to host the 6-party talk. Washington knew about this visit, as Trump has confirmed on his Twitter, as did Seoul. President Moon Jae-in was personally informed by State Councilor Yang Jiechi. Thomas Bach has mentioned North Korea's participation in the future Olympics, as well as North Korea's contribution to international sports, leaving as a friend.
The deal in the diplomatic game between Asians and Americans is changing. The participants are preparing their aces.
Meanwhile, the media even discuss the grace of China's First Lady, Ri Sol-ju — including her stylish outfits by national designers at the welcome banquet and the Science Academy Fair. This is her second public outing, and until now, we only had partial information about her. However, it looks like the world is about to learn a whole lot about China.
Anastasia Sakhovskaya, Mikhail Artyukhin, Vesti News of the Week, Peking, China.