The Chinese media today appeared to confirm that Kim Jong Il has been travelling in China without third son and successor Kim Jong Eun.
Citing a source “close to the local government”, a report carried by Global Times today explained, “The source confirmed to the Global Times that Kim’s heir apparent, Kim Jong Eun, was not among the delegation, despite growing speculation among foreign media.”
Elsewhere, the report also partly bucked the Chinese media’s tendency to report Kim’s movements indirectly through the lens of the South Korean media, instead commenting on his schedule directly from Yangzhou.
Accordingly, Kim was said to have visited both a local lakeside park and a number of economic sites in the city, including, a source was quoted as saying, “JA Solar Holdings, which is a world-leading manufacturer of high-performance solar power products.”
However, commenting on where Kim might be headed next, the report became less clear, suggesting that Nanjing could be on the agenda and speculating, via a report carried by Japan’s NTV network, that Kim Jong Eun may be set to join his father in the city for this, the fifth day of the China trip.
In an editorial published on Saturday, meanwhile, commented that Sino-North Korean relations are a force for good and urged patience on the part of the international community.
“It is certain that the security issue tops the agenda for North Korea, which suffers from isolation and poverty thanks to international sanctions,” the editorial asserts, suggesting, “North Korea wavers frequently between military expansion and economic development.”
However, in the midst of an explicitly economic visit, it goes on, “The world now needs to take a very patient and flexible attitude in dealing with North Korea,” before adding, “It is fortunate that there still remains an effective communication channel between China and North Korea.”
