Politics
13:39, 30-May-2018
Top DPRK general at Beijing airport en route to US
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A senior official from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) arrived at Beijing's international airport on Wednesday to board a flight to the United States for high-level talks ahead of a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.
General Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the central committee of the Workers' Party and right-hand man to Kim Jong Un, was driven to the restricted VIP entrance of the airport, according to AFP journalists, a day after he flew into the Chinese capital from the DPRK.
Kim Yong Chol (front), vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee, arrives at the international airport in Beijing, China in this photo taken by Kyodo on May 30, 2018. /Kyodo Photo via Reuters
Kim Yong Chol (front), vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee, arrives at the international airport in Beijing, China in this photo taken by Kyodo on May 30, 2018. /Kyodo Photo via Reuters
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The DPRK official appeared on a list of passengers set to depart for New York on Air China flight CA981 at 1300 local time on Wednesday, and was photographed by the Associated Press at Beijing Capital Airport.
A still from the video: Kim Yong Chol (R), a former military intelligence chief who is now Kim Jong Un’s top official on inter-Korean relations, walks through Beijing airport after his arrival, May 29, 2018. /AP Photo
A still from the video: Kim Yong Chol (R), a former military intelligence chief who is now Kim Jong Un’s top official on inter-Korean relations, walks through Beijing airport after his arrival, May 29, 2018. /AP Photo
The White House announced on Tuesday that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will meet with Kim Yong Chol later this week.
The announcement followed a tweet from Trump Tuesday morning, saying that Kim Yong Chol is "heading now to New York".
(Top image: DPRK ruling Woker's Party vice chairman Kim Yong Chol and delegation arrives at Dorasan CIQ near DMZ in Paju, South Korea, February 25, 2018. /VCG Photo)