Xi visit on Pyongyang front pages but only just
Published on: Wednesday, June 19, 2019
PYONGYANG: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s forthcoming visit to North Korea this week was in the news in Pyongyang Tuesday, but in the country where Kim Jong Un comes first, it only just made the front page.
The Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the official mouthpiece of the ruling Workers’ Party, made it the fourth item on page one, in a highlight box but without a picture.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Xi Jinping to visit DPRK”, read the headline, using the North’s formal name.
The one-sentence story said that Xi would be making a state visit “at the invitation of Kim Jong Un”, giving both men’s national and party titles.
The trip by the leader of the North’s key diplomatic ally and main provider of trade and aid has long been awaited, and comes after Kim travelled to China four times for meetings with Xi.
But the Rodong Sinmun’s top item is always about Kim, and it led Tuesday with news that the Venezuelan city of Naguanagua had awarded him its top honour to mark the one-year anniversary of his Singapore summit with US President Donald Trump.
ADVERTISEMENT
Nuclear negotiations with Washington have since stalled, with a second summit in Hanoi breaking up as the two sides disagreed over the extent of sanctions relief and what the North would be willing to give up in return.
Analysts say that Xi’s journey is intended as a signal to Trump—with whom he is embroiled in a separate dispute over trade—of his backing for Kim and influence with him.
ADVERTISEMENT
In Pyongyang, commuters waiting for their trains read about the visit in newsstands at subway stations.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
