Japan says leaders of China, Japan discuss North Korean leader's visit

TOKYO: Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao discussed the visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to China at the sidelines of an annual summit, a Japanese foreign ministry official said on Sunday, effectively confirming Kim's visit to Pyongyang's only ally.

But it is unclear whether the discussions centred on media reports of Kim's visit or Kim's actual presence in China.

When asked if China confirmed Kim's visit, the official said he could not elaborate on the content of the talks.

"It is true that Kim Jong-ll's visit to China came up in talks among the leaders, but we cannot comment on the content (of discussions)," a Japanese foreign ministry official told reporters.

"We did not ask them to explain, but it was one of the issues that came up" he said when asked if it was Japan who asked about the visit.

A train from North Korea headed through China on Saturday on a secretive journey that may be a mission by the North Korean leader Kim to shore up ties with Pyongyang's sole major supporter. Neither Beijing nor Pyongyang has said whether Kim, and maybe his son and heir apparent Kim Jong-un, is visiting China on the distinctive North Korean train. Both sides are habitually secretive about such trips.

The Japanese foreign ministry official declined to comment on whether Kim's son, Kim Jong-un, was in China.

Wen is currently visiting Japan for a summit with the leaders of Japan and South Korea, both foes of Pyongyang.

China has sought to steady ties with Seoul and Tokyo, but also sees North Korea as a strategic bulwark against the United States and its regional allies. In recent years, China has sought to shore up relations with the North with increased aid and trade and frequent visits there by leaders.

Copyright Reuters, 2011