North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's special envoy has arrived in China.

Chinese media report Wednesday that Director of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) General Political Bureau Choe Ryong-hae landed in Beijing at 10:30 a.m., local time.

Choe is said to have met with Wang Jiarui, the head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Department, and discussed issues including Sino-North Korea relations.

Choe is expected to continue on with a series of meetings with leaders of China. President Xi Jinping could be one of them if the Vice Marshall holds a letter written by Kim Jong-un.

This marks the first time that Kim Jong-un has sent his envoy to Beijing since Kim Jong-il's death in December of 2011.

Choe is immediately below North Korean parliamentary leader Kim Yong-nam in official ranking, and he is believed to be one of the closest figures to Kim Jong-un along with the young leader's uncle Jang Sung-taek.

Last year, the North sent vice chairman of the National Defense Commission Jang to China to meet then-Chinese president Hu Jintao and then-premier Wen Jiabao. They discussed ways to expedite the two countries' joint development projects for Hwanggeumpyeong and Wihwa island as well as the Rason Economic and Trade Zone.