China Envoy Meetings

[Anchor Lead]

As the Chinese envoy to North Korea wrapped up his widely anticipated trip to the North, sources say he did not actually meet leader Kim Jong-un. The four day trip came to a close with little fanfare, but here’s what we know about the meetings.

[Pkg]

North Korean state television briefly reported on the visit of Chinese envoy Song Tao, who had been sent to North Korea by Chinese President Xi Jinping, one day later.

[Soundbite] (Korean Central TV (N. Korea, Nov. 20)) : "The special envoy of Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China, Song Tao, laid a flower basket at the Friendship Monument on Nov. 19."

The North Korean media did not say anything on the Chinese envoy's meeting with Kim Jong-un. Some raised the possibility of him meeting with Kim shortly before his departure, but apparently it did not take place. China says it has nothing to say about the matter.

[Soundbite] Lu Kang(Spokesperson, Chinese Foreign Ministry) : "The visit is not over yet. We have no other information on the meeting or other events."

Earlier, China said that its envoy met with North Korean officials Choe Ryong-hae and Ri Su-yong to exchange opinions on bilateral relations, but the two sides only confirmed their differences.

[Soundbite] Prof. Nam Sung-wook(Korea University) : "This represents North Korea's protest against China implementing sanctions against the regime in line with President Trump's demands as well as against Song Tao's low rank."

In 2012, Kim Jong-un met with then-vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress Li Jianguo after the Chinese Communist Party convention. China's Xinhua News Agency says that the envoy Song Tao and his delegation have returned to China after a four-day trip to the North.