A Japanese daily says North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is expected to visit China in January or February.

The Yomiuri Shimbun says the recent visits to China made by Kim’s aides are believed to be preliminary contacts centering on the arranging of a trip to China by the North Korean leader.

The head of the North’s national police visited China last Tuesday and a national security officer charged with Kim's personal security is also believed to have made a secret visit last month.

The paper said that if Kim does visit Beijing, he will likely ask for more economic aid from Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Yomiuri expected China would, in turn, urge North Korea to return to the six-party nuclear talks.