North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's unofficial visit to Beijing has been shrouded in secrecy, as Kim has meticulously eluded media scrutiny during his three days in China.

But a Japanese TV station had a rare glimpse of the reclusive leader's activity in the Chinese capital Tuesday. The Tokyo Broadcasting System released a TV footage of the North Korean leader emerging from a Peking duck restaurant near Beijing's Tiananmen Square, surrounded by a heavy cover of bodyguards.

Kim reportedly met Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong in the restaurant for a luncheon meeting during which the two discussed pending bilateral issues.

The North Korean leader, accompanied by a 30- to 40- strong entourage, arrived by train in Beijing Monday on an unofficial visit and headed directly into talks with President Hu Jintao.

On Tuesday, Kim met top Chinese leaders, including former President Jiang Zemin and head of parliament Wu Bangguo, for talks dominated by the nuclear standoff and economic assistance.

The Yonhap News Agency in Seoul said Kim is to return to Pyongyang on Wednesday afternoon by train. The report said that on his way back to Pyongyang, Kim may make a stop in Shenyang or Dalian in northeastern China to visit a computer software complex there.

Neither China nor North Korea have officially confirmed the North Korean leader's visit to Beijing. Yonhap said the Chinese government would announce Kim's visit after he completes his trip later in the day.