North Korea's Kim Jong Il hosted a weekend dinner in Pyongyang for the new Chinese ambassador, state media reported Sunday, indicating the reclusive communist leader has not embarked on a much-speculated trip to Beijing. Kim's potential visit is a focus of intense attention because it could mean North Korea's return to dormant China-hosted international disarmament talks on its nuclear weapons program. Sunday, the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported Kim attended a banquet Saturday evening for new Chinese Ambassador to Pyongyang, Liu Hongcai, with his top deputies. “All the participants warmly welcomed (Kim) with highest tribute as he has made an undying contribution to boosting” bilateral ties, the dispatch said. China's Xinhua News Agency carried a similar report. Media speculation on Kim's possible visit to China intensified after South Korea's presidential office said Wednesday there was a high possibility a visit was in the works. South Korea's Yonhap news agency had reported that a special train arrived early Saturday in the Chinese city of Dandong and quoted an anonymous South Korean government official as saying the train might be carrying Kim or could be an advance train preceding a trip. Yonhap later reported the train carried cargo. The reclusive Kim rarely travels abroad and only under tight security. He last visited China in January 2006 but Chinese President Hu Jintao has recently invited him to visit again. As the North's key ally and biggest aid provider, China is widely seen as the country with the most clout with Pyongyang. Yonhap said last week that China would offer economic assistance to North Korea during Kim's trip, and Pyongyang would in return make a promise to return to the six-party nuclear talks involving the two Koreas, China, the US, Russia and Japan. North Korea quit the forum last year and conducted a second underground nuclear test, resulting in tighter UN sanctions.
