Editor's Note

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's special envoy on May 22 held talks with a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official in Beijing, signaling an attempt by Pyongyang to break out of the increasing isolation it has felt from the international community throughout the latest round of tensions.

Latest News

	Kim's envoy visits Beijing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's special envoy on May 22 held talks with a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official in Beijing, signaling an attempt by Pyongyang to break out of the increasing isolation it has felt from the international community throughout the latest round of tensions.
	Senior CPC official meets top DPRK leader's special envoy Wang Jiarui, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with the special envoy of Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Beijing on May 22.
	Top DPRK leader's envoy leaves for visit to China A special envoy of Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), left Pyongyang on May 22 for a visit to China, the official KCNA news agency reported.

NK's Special Envoy

	Visiting special envoy: Choe Ryong-hae, 63
	Titles:  vice marshal of the Korean People's Army and member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK)
	Time: arrived in Bejing on May 22, 2013
	companied by senior officials from the military and the WPK
	met with Wang Jiarui, head of the CPC Central Committee's International Department, on May 22.
Topics: China and North Korea would exchange views on the Korean Peninsula situation and issues of common concern during Choe’s visit, Hong Lei, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, announced on May 22, 2013.

Choe Ryong-hae is the most senior North Korean official to visit China since Kim Jong-un came to power in December 2011. It remained unclear whether Chinese President Xi Jinping or other top officials would meet Choe or how long the special envoy would stay.

Comments

Chinese Experts' Views:

Zhang Xiaoan, a deputy head of the UN Association of China

The North has complaints about China siding with the international community to punish it, but will still attempt to soothe situation as the North "cannot continue with this tough attitude."

Zhang Liangui, an expert on North Korea at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee

Pyongyang is attempting to influence China's diplomacy. "The North's provocations backfired and have pushed China and the US closer together, resulting in more frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries. So it is trying a new way to sabotage Sino-US ties," said Zhang Liangui.

Zhu Feng, a professor at the School of International Studies of Peking University

Pyongyang is not likely to soften its tone during the visit, as this could be seen as a concession to China. Zhu noted that judging from the limited coverage given by Xinhua, Beijing is not reacting warmly to the attempts.

Northeast Asia expert Wang Dong of Peking University

Choe's trip is a "somewhat encouraging sign" that Pyongyang might be open to talks. "The question of course will be how serious North Korea will be," he said.

Sun Xinjie, columnist with news portal sohu.com and expert of international relations

The North Korean envoy seeks aid from China during a strained period in Sino-North Korean relations.

“Pyongyang is now facing a severe economic crisis. The government is using military food provisions to alleviate the county’s food shortage. North Korea also owes China an explanation for continuing to conduct nuclear tests ever since Kim Jong-un came to power. North Korea also needs to rebuild its relationship with China after its armed forces kidnapped Chinese fishermen,” wrote Sun.

Source: Global Times – Agencies

Overseas Media Reports:

	Kim sends special envoy to Beijing The trip is the highest-profile visit by a North Korean official to China this year, and it takes place as the new leadership in China shows frustration with North Korea and a greater willingness to work with Washington to harry Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons programs.
	North Korean envoy visits Beijing amid concerns about US-Chinese relations In sending Vice Marshal Choe, Kim Jong-un was hoping to get “China’s understanding and support” but was unlikely to achieve it, said Cai Jian, deputy director of the Center for Korean Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.
	Kim Jong-un’s special envoy visits China Choe’s trip could represent an effort to repair frayed ties, although the North’s government-controlled media did not elaborate on its purpose.
	Envoy's visit to China gets extensive N. Korean media coverage North Korean media gave extensive coverage Thursday to the visit by its special envoy to Beijing that may help ease strained ties between the two neighboring countries.
	Vice Marshal Choe Ryong Hae, North Korea Special Envoy, Sent To China For Talks After months of ignoring Chinese warnings to give up nuclear weapons, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a high-level confidant to Beijing on on May 22, in a possible effort to mend strained ties with his country's most important ally and a sign that he may be giving diplomacy a chance.

Envoy diplomay

Past North Korean envoys:

August., 2009	The then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il sent a delegation of senior officials in August 2009 to pay respect to late President Kim Dae-jung, on behalf of the North. Kim's envoy met with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at Cheong Wa Dae for 30 minutes.
October 2000	In a landmark visit to Washington by DPRK leader Kim Jong-il's envoy, Cho Myong-rok, in October 2000, Pyongyang and Washington signed a joint communique in which Pyongyang promised to stop launching long-range missiles while talks on the missile issue continue.

Recent Korean Peninsula-related envoys:

January 9-11, 2013	China envoy set for Park meeting on S.Korea trip Chinese special envoy Zhang Zhijun is in South Korea for a three-day visit and is expected to meet with then President-elect Park Geun-hye on the future bilateral ties on January 10. Zhang's visit aims to improve bilateral strategic partnership after Park takes office.
January 21, 2013	China urges treatment of Korean Peninsula tensions Chinese leader Xi Jinping on January 23 called for comprehensive treatment of tensions over the Korean Peninsula as he met Kim Moo-sung, special envoy of South Korean then president-elect Park Geun-hye. In a letter conveyed by Kim to Xi, Park said she hopes to make joint efforts with China for the peninsula's stability and peace and prosperity in the Northeast Asia.
May 14-17, 2013	Japan PM vows to seek talks with NK over kidnapping Japan's prime minister vowed on May 19 to seek talks with Pyongyang in a bid to settle the nagging issue of North Korea's kidnapping of Japanese, without risking its alliance with Washington and Seoul after a surprise visit to North Korea by one of his advisers last week. The adviser, Isao Iijima, returned home on May 18 after the four-day visit to Pyongyang where he discussed with North Korean officials ways to resolve the long-pending abduction issue.
May 22, 2013	Kim's envoy visits Beijing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's special envoy Choe Ryong-hae on May 22 held talks with a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official in Beijing, signaling an attempt by Pyongyang to break out of the increasing isolation it has felt from the international community throughout the latest round of tensions.

News Vocab

敏感时期 mǐn'gǎn shíqī

“敏感”  adj. sensitive            (source: 《新世纪汉英大词典》)

“时期”  n. period                     (source: 《新世纪汉英大词典》)

“敏感时期” n. sensitive period

“敏感时期”是指在政治、经济或社会问题等方面容易引起关注或变化等反应的一段时间。

“敏感时期” refers to a volatile or sensitive period of political, economic or social importance.    

Example:

金正恩特使敏感时期访华。（source:《南方日报》）

A special envoy for North Korean leader Kim Jong-unis visiting Chinain a sensitive period.

Web Editor: jinjianyu@globaltimes.com.cn