Kim Jong Un meets Chinese official Wang Huning but skips meeting Xi Jinping

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Dandong, China, on October 24, where he met with Wang Huning, the Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the fourth-ranking official in the Chinese Communist Party.

Notably, Kim did not meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during this visit. This marks the first time in Kim's previous five visits to China, dating back to September of last year, that he has not had contact with the Chinese head of state.

The visit was a one-day trip. Observers suggest the lack of a summit with Xi may have been due to the timing of the visit, which occurred just before the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, a significant Chinese political meeting. During his meeting with Wang, Kim expressed gratitude to Xi Jinping for the “special and meticulous care” shown during the visit.