A group of North Korean officials are reportedly visiting Beijing amid signals that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il may visit China soon.

A source in Beijing said Thursday that the advance team of about 30 North Korean officials arrived in Beijing at the end of last year and proceeded to take a tour of the capital, as well as the city of Tianjin, for about ten days.

The source added that some of the team officials have left for a city in China's northeastern region.

A series of recent visits to China by North Korean top officials, including a top national security officer charged with Kim's personal security, also lend weight to speculation that the North Korean leader may be planning to visit the neighboring country.