China's President Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Pyongyang next month at the invitation of North Korea leader Kim Jong Un to attend the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding, Singapore's Straits Times newspaper reported.
It will be the Chinese leader's first visit to the North Korean capital since he took power in 2012, and 13 years after the last visit by a Chinese President, when Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao visited in 2005, the newspaper said on Saturday.
The Straits Times did not say where it obtained the information and the Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
North Korea's celebrations are set to take place on Sept. 9 and the Straits Times said that Xi's visit could still be subject to last-minute changes.
China is the reclusive country's most important trading partner and Kim has visited China three times so far this year during which he has held talks with Xi on improving cooperation between the two countries and economic reforms.
The United States has stepped up sanctions on North Korea to pressure Pyongyang to give up its nuclear program. This week, the United States imposed sanctions on Chinese firms for exporting alcohol and cigarette products to North Korea in breach of those sanctions.
North Korea's Chairman Kim Jong-un criticized global sanctions against his country Friday, dampening optimistic remarks from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.After being asked by President Donald Trump for a Pyongyang update, Washington's top ambassador told a Cabinet meeting Thursday that he was hoping to "make a big step here before too long."But the North continues to pressure the U.S. over key sticking points that seemingly stand in the way of Pyongyang's denuclearization -- including Washington's insistence on maintaining sanctions until the regime verifiably abandons its nukes.'Palestine stands with Turkey'While inspecting the construction of a coastal resort, Kim reportedly described the situation as "a do-or-die struggle"."Such a huge and grand creation campaign as the construction of the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist area is an acute standoff with hostile forces trying to stifle the Korean people through brigandish sanctions and blockade," Kim was quoted as saying by North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency.Channels of currency speculation shut down: Presidential aideMeanwhile, the North's official Rodong Sinmun carried a commentary Friday saying that the U.S. should agree to declare a formal end to the 1950-1953 Korean War "to pave the ground for detente and permanent peace".The newspaper insisted that Washington "should implement phased and simultaneous measures, like the end-of-war declaration, to build mutual trust."US cannot see who its true friend is: Turkish FMHowever, the U.S. has repeatedly stated that Pyongyang must first denuclearize before they can officially enter a state of peace. At the risk of further upsetting Washington, Kim's number two Choe Ryong-hae is currently visiting Cuba, according to the country's Prensa Latina news agency.Choe's trip there comes just days after Ri Yong-ho, North Korea's foriegn minister, said he was building ties in Iran, another country the U.S. has difficult relations with.
North Korean leader Kim slams sanctions
Russia is working on retaliatory measures against the United States after it imposed sanctions on a Russian company for aiding North Korea, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency on Thursday.Washington sanctioned Russian-based Profinet Pte Ltd and its director general, Vasili Aleksandrovich Kolchanov, on Wednesday for providing port services on at least six occasions to North Korean-flagged ships.Ryabkov said a decision on a response would be taken by the country's leadership.Trade dispute with Turkey puts pressure on US stocksUS tariffs to remain even if pastor freed: WH
Russia mulls response to US sanctions over North Korea
The United States on imposed sanctions on a Russian port service agency and Chinese firms on Wednesday for aiding North Korean ships and selling alcohol and tobacco to Pyongyang in breach of U.S. sanctions aimed at pressuring North Korea to end its nuclear programs.The U.S. Treasury said in a statement China-based Dalian Sun Moon Star International Logistics Trading Co. Ltd and its Singapore-based affiliate SINSMS Pte. Ltd had netted more than $1 billion a year by exporting alcohol and cigarette products to North Korea.The department also sanctioned Russian-based Profinet Pte Ltd and its director general, Vasili Aleksandrovich Kolchanov, for providing port services on at least six occasions to North Korean-flagged ships.Kolchanov was personally involved in North Korea-related deals and interacted directly with North Korean representatives in Russia, the Treasury department said."The tactics that these entities based in China, Singapore, and Russia are using to attempt to evade sanctions are prohibited under U.S. law, and all facets of the shipping industry have a responsibility to abide by them or expose themselves to serious risks," U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.Washington has been pressuring North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program.Gao Ye, legal representative of Dalian Sun Moon Star International Logistics Trading, said when asked for comment on the U.S. Treasury statement the matter was still unclear and the Chinese company had not received any notice.South Korean team heads to North for family reunionsNorth Korea claims Putin wants Kim summitNorth, South Korea agree on third summit to be held in Pyongyang
US hits Chinese and Russian firms over breach of N Korea sanctions
South Korean officials travelled to North Korea Wednesday to prepare reunions for relatives separated by their tense border.Lee Jong-chol of the Red Cross is in charge of the 18-member delegation, which was only able to enter the North with Pyongyang’s permission.Some 93 family members from the South are set to be reunited with their North Korean relatives from next Monday to Wednesday. Then from Friday to Sunday, 88 chosen individuals from the North will have the opportunity to meet their kin from South Korea.The events at North Korea’s Mount Kumgang resort will be the first of their kind since 2015 and represent a key outcome of April’s breakthrough inter-Korean summit.North Korea claims Putin wants Kim summitPyongyang’s state-run media had recently reported threats to cancel the reunions amid criticisms of Seoul for holding firm on sanctions against the North as well as allegedly luring a group of overseas North Korean restaurant workers to escape from their post in China in 2016.However, plans appear to be proceeding smoothly, with South Korea’s advance team in line to carry out inspections and remain in the North until the reunions are finished.Concerns have been mounting that time is running out for 56,000 registered separated relatives in South Korea alone, given that more than seven decades have passed since the Korean War broke out.
South Korean team heads to North for family reunions