The head of the United Front Department of North Korea’s ruling Workers' Party has been confirmed to have made a six-day visit to China.

According to diplomatic sources in Beijing, Kim Yang-gon arrived in the Chinese capital on October 15th and returned to the North on Tuesday afternoon.

The sources said that Kim’s detailed schedule in China has not been released, but he would have discussed with Chinese officials ways to improve relations with South Korea and Japan.

In related news, South Korean independent lawmaker Chung Dong-young said that he came across the senior North Korean official and his aide at Beijing Airport on Tuesday morning.