Anchor: A special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping has embarked on a trip to North Korea. U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the plan as a "big move." 
Kim In-kyung has more. 

Report: China’s special envoy to North Korea headed to Pyongyang on Friday. 

It is the first high-level visit by China to the North in two years and comes on the heels of in-depth discussions on the North's nuclear program between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Beijing said earlier in the week that Song Tao, head of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China(CPC), will inform North Korean officials of the results of the CPC’s 19th Congress. 

Although Beijing played down the trip, diplomats speculate that Xi may be taking a step to mediate a resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue. 

Trump toned down his "fire and fury" rhetoric during his 12-day tour of Asia and offered high expectations for Song's trip. In a tweet on Thursday, he said "China is sending an Envoy and Delegation to North Korea - A big move, we'll see what happens!" 

U.S. Secretary for Defense James Mattis also said Thursday that there is potential for talks between Washington and Pyongyang if the North stops developing its nuclear and missile programs.
 
However, the North's state-run daily Rodong Sinmun said in an editorial on Friday that Pyongyang would never put issues related to the regime's highest interest and the safety of its people on the negotiating table, suggesting that it isn't willing to cut a deal on its nuclear arms. 
Kim In-kyung, KBS World Radio News. 

[Photo : ]