DPRK’s Vice Foreign Minister Ri Kil Song has arrived in Beijing for a five-day visit, on the invitation of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, spokesman Geng Shuang said at Tuesday’s regular press briefing.

Chinese senior officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin and Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou, will discuss with Ri "issues of mutual concern" and other international affairs.

Ri’s visit comes after a recent announcement by Beijing that China is to stop all imports of DPRK coal.

That announcement followed the DPRK's launching of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile on February 12, despite warnings from the international community.