North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on his visit to China had pledged denuclearization of Korena peninsula, China announced. The pledge was taken during a meeting of Kim with President Xi Jinping and in return China pledged to uphold the friendship with its isolated neighbor.

The news comes after two days passed amid speculation that  Kim paid a visit to Beijing and met Xi Jingping, what the official Xinhua news agency called an unofficial visit from starting from Sunday to Wednesday.

The trip is understood to be the first one abroad by Kim after assuming power in the year 2011. Analysts are of the view that this meeting was to serve as preparation for upcoming summits with South Korea and the United States.

Traditionally, both the eastern countries has been the closest allies, but later, when North Korea started developing nuclear weapons against the international law, the ties went down and led to the China’s support for the U.N. sanctions in response.

Xinhua News Agency cited Ki telling Xi that the Korean peninsula situation is improving as of now because North Korea has taken initiative to ease tensions in the region and also put forward proposals for peace talks.

“It is our consistent stand to be committed to denuclearization on the peninsula, in accordance with the will of late President Kim Il Sung and late General Secretary Kim Jong Il,” Kim Jong Un said, according to Xinhua.

North Korea is ready to talk with the United States and hold a summit between the two countries, he said.

“The issue of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realization of peace,” Kim said.

Xi had reportedly told Kim in return that both sides had stated repeatedly that their traditional friendship would be passed on and developed better.

“This is a strategic choice and the only right choice both sides have made based on history and reality, the international and regional structure and the general situation of China-North Korea ties. This should not and will not change because of any single event at a particular time,” Xi said.

Xinhua news agency published a photograph of Kim and Xi shaking hands in front of the flags of the two nations.

There was speculation about the meet between the two leaders taking place earlier this week after a train which seems to be similar to the one which carried Kim’s father was seen in the Chinese capital.  The train passed amid high security and also large motorcade.

Kim was accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, Xinhua new agency reported.

Xi had accepted an invitation given by Kim to visit North Korea, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said.

Improving ties between North Korea and China would be a positive sign on the long term before planned summits involving the two Koreas and the United States, a senior South Korean official said on Tuesday.

Kim Jong Un’s father, namely Kim Jong Il, met then-president Jiang Zemin in China in the year 2000 before a summit between the two Koreas in June that year. That visit was seen at the time as reaffirmation of traditionally close ties with Beijing.

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