A diplomatic source in China is dismissing Japanese media reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il will soon visit China.

The source noted that inter-Korean tension is building in the wake of the “Cheonan” naval vessel’s sinking and North Korea’s freezing of South Korean-held assets at Mount Geumgang.

The source said that given such conditions, it would be difficult to arrange a meeting on short notice between the Chinese leadership and Kim Jong-il.

As another reason for the low probability of the North Korean leader’s visit to China, the source cited the absence of the Chinese Communist Party secretary that is in charge of security arrangements for any visit by the North Korean leader. The secretary is currently out of the country.

Japanese news outlets, including the Asahi Shimbun, the Mainichi Shimbun and Kyodo News, reported earlier this month that the North Korean leader may visit Beijing late this month or early next month.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is scheduled to visit China from April 30th to May first for a summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao and to attend the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.