Overview of Kim Jong Un's four visits to China

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Kim Jong Un, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has just concluded a visit to China.

It marks his fourth visit to China in 10 months. Since he took office in 2011, Kim has made six foreign trips to three countries; the other two being Republic of Korea (ROK) and Singapore.

Below is an overview of Kim's four visits to China, and what he and Chinese President Xi Jinping said during their meetings on the issues of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the DPRK's dialogue with the U.S. and China's efforts on the Peninsula issue.

His first visit took place in late March, after China's annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Denuclearization on the Peninsula

Xi: China reiterates the goal of denuclearization of the Peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability and solving problems through dialogue and consultation.

Kim: It is the DPRK's consistent stand to be committed to denuclearization on the Peninsula… The issue of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula can be resolved if the ROK and the U.S. respond to DPRK's efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realization of peace.

DPRK-U.S. dialogue

Kim: The DPRK is willing to have dialogue with the U.S. and hold a summit between the two countries.

China's efforts

Xi: China will continue to play a constructive role on the issue and work with all parties, including the DPRK, toward a thaw in the situation on the Peninsula.

The second visit came after Kim met with ROK President Moon Jae-in in late April.

Denuclearization on the Peninsula

Kim: It has been the DPRK's consistent and clear stand to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. As long as relevant parties abolish their hostile policies and remove security threats against the DPRK, there is no need for the DPRK to be a nuclear state and denuclearization can be realized.

DPRK-U.S. dialogue

Xi: China backs the dialogue and consultation between the DPRK and the U.S. for resolving the Peninsula issue.

Kim: The DPRK hopes to build mutual trust through dialogue with the U.S. and that relevant sides would take phased and synchronous measures in a responsible manner so as to comprehensively advance the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue and eventually achieve denuclearization and lasting peace on the Peninsula.

China's efforts

Xi: China is willing to continue to work with all relevant parties and play an active role in comprehensively advancing the process of peaceful resolution of the Peninsula issue through dialogue, and realizing long-term peace and stability in the region.

Kim: The DPRK appreciates China's long-standing and significant contribution to realizing denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and safeguarding peace and stability in the region.

Kim's third visit to China came after his historic summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12.

Denuclearization on the Peninsula

Xi: Kim has made positive efforts for realizing denuclearization and maintaining peace on the Peninsula.

Kim: The DPRK side hopes to work with China and other concerned parties to promote the establishment of a lasting and solid peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula, and make joint efforts to achieve lasting peace on the Peninsula.

DPRK-U.S. dialogue

Xi: The DPRK-U.S. summit marked an important step forward in the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Kim: The DPRK-U.S. summit had achieved positive results in line with the interests of concerned parties and the expectations of the international community. If the two sides can implement the consensus of the summit step by step, the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will open up new and important prospects.

China's efforts

Xi: China will continue to play a constructive role.

Kim: The DPRK greatly appreciates China's important role in promoting denuclearization of the Peninsula as well as in maintaining peace and stability.

Kim visited China at the beginning of 2019, which marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Denuclearization on the Peninsula

Xi: Major progress was made in the process of a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue last year thanks to the joint efforts of China, the DPRK and other relevant parties.

Kim: It is hoped that relevant parties will attach importance to and positively respond to the DPRK's legitimate concerns, and jointly push for a comprehensive resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue.

DPRK-U.S. dialogue

Xi: China hopes that the DPRK and the U.S. will meet each other halfway.

Kim: DPRK will stick to its denuclearization pledge and prepare for the second summit with the U.S.

China's efforts

Kim: The Korean Peninsula situation has been easing since last year, and China's important role in this process is obvious to all. The DPRK side highly and sincerely appreciates the Chinese efforts.

Xi: China stands ready to work with the DPRK and relevant parties to play a positive and constructive role in maintaining peace and stability and realizing denuclearization on the Peninsula and lasting peace and stability in the region.