Kim Yong Nam, the veteran chair of the
Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly in North Korea, arrived to
Beijing Capital International Airport at 10a.m. on October 21st via Koryo Air,
North Korea’s flag carrier.
Kim and his 10-member delegation were greeted by the North’s ambassador to China, Ji Jae Ryong, before departing in a
black Mercedes sedan. He is scheduled to depart this afternoon or tomorrow to
visit a number of African countries, including Ethiopia, Sudan, and Congo. During his stay in Beijing Kim is not
expected to meet with any high-level Chinese officials.
This visit is thought to be part of recent
efforts by North Korea to break its
isolation and foster better international relations. Kim Yong Nam’s African tour closely follows a visit to Mongolia and Europe by senior diplomat, Kang Sok Ju, as well as Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong’s attendance at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly and subsequent trip to Russia.
“Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium
of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK, left here on Tuesday to pay
official goodwill visits to some African countries,”
Chosun Central News Agency [KCNA] reported on the event today. “Among his suite members are Kang Ha Guk, minister of Public Health,
Kung Sok Ung, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, So Kil Bok, vice-minister of
External Economic Relations.”
KCNA previously announced Kim’s plans to visit a number of countries in Africa on October 17th.
