Kim Jong Il reportedly left for China on his private train at dawn today, August 26th.
A high official in the South Korean administration revealed, “A sign that Defense Commission Chairman Kim has headed for China has been picked up,” and went on, “We are looking into what his exact destination and purpose is.”
Since Kim last visited Beijing in May, and that was his first visit to the country for four years, the timing of this visit, only three months later, is extremely irregular.
Furthermore, in May he met with both President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, the biggest players in Chinese politics, so it cannot be said that he has any unfinished business there.
Experts in South Korea presume that Kim is in China to share opinions on the succession issue in advance of the Delegates’ Conference scheduled for early in September.
Following this visit, Kim Jong Il will have visited China six times; in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, and in May and now August this year.
