A rare visit to Beijing by a high-profile envoy from Pyongyang has grabbed attention as to its possible ramifications on the geopolitical situations on the Korean Peninsula.

The delegation led by North Korean Workers’ Party central committee Vice Chairman Ri Su-yong met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday.

This meeting between a Chinese president and a high-ranking North Korean official was the first of its kind in three years. During the meeting, Xi called on the concerned parties to maintain "calm and restraint," to strengthen dialogue and communication and safeguard the peace and stability in the region.

Xi told Ri that China’s stance on the Korean Peninsula is consistent and clear, reiterating China’s three principles toward Korean Peninsula-related issues. The three principles are denuclearization, maintaining peace and stability and resolving the issues through dialogue and negotiation.

Ri delivered a personal message from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in which Kim expressed hope to maintain and develop the traditionally friendly relations between Pyongyang and Beijing.

Ri, who arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, also met Song Tao, the head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China. Ri spoke about North Korean leader Kim’s announcement of the simultaneous pursuit of economic and nuclear development as the party's permanent strategy.

In response, Song was cited as saying that the Chinese ruling party and the government firmly support the North Korean party moving forward on the path of development. Song said China genuinely wishes the North success in achieving the goals proposed during the congress.

Seoul appeared to be carefully looking into the possible motives and results of Ri’s visit to China, but in the meantime expressed hope that the occasion will contribute to the peace of the Korean Peninsula and the denuclearization of the North.


Unification Ministry Spokesman JeongJoon-hee made the remarks in a regular news briefing on Wednesday, calling the visit by Ri and his large entourage a customary exchange between the ruling parties of Beijing and Pyongyang.