China's President Xi praises Kim Jong-un for his 'positive' summit with President Trump and offers unwavering support to 'socialist North Korea' as the leaders meet in Beijing

  • Xi Jinping met with Kim Jong-un in Beijing Tuesday to discuss the Trump summit
  • He praised Kim's 'positive' steps toward denuclearization of Korean Peninsula 
  • Chinese leader also reaffirmed his country's support for North Korea
  • The meeting marks the third time that Kim has visited China this year 

Chinese President Xi Jinping heaped praised on Kim Jong-un for his 'positive' summit with Donald Trump on Tuesday as the North Korean dictator visited Beijing.

Xi also pledged China's unwavering support for 'socialist North Korea' and said he remains dedicated to improving relations between the two countries.

The meeting marks the third time that Kim has visited China this year after his summit with Trump in Singapore last week. 

Kim did not travel abroad once during the first seven years of his rule. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, right, greeted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with his wife Ri Sol-Ju, left,  at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, right, greeted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with his wife Ri Sol-Ju, left, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday

Footage run by China's CCTV shows President Xi and Kim shaking hands during a welcome reception in Beijing 

Footage run by China's CCTV shows President Xi and Kim shaking hands during a welcome reception in Beijing 

President Xi offered high praise to Kim on Tuesday, lauding the "positive" outcome of his historic summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and promising unwavering friendship

President Xi offered high praise to Kim on Tuesday, lauding the 'positive' outcome of his historic summit with U.S. President Donald Trump and promising unwavering friendship

Kim Jong-un has arrived in Beijing for a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping where he is likely to reveal details of his goundbreaking meeting with Donald Trump (Kim's car pictured)

Kim Jong-un has arrived in Beijing for a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping where he is likely to reveal details of his goundbreaking meeting with Donald Trump (Kim's car pictured)

Security was tight on Tuesday morning as a motorcade including sedans, minibuses, motorcycles and a stretch limo with a golden emblem was seen leaving Beijing's airport

Security was tight on Tuesday morning as a motorcade including sedans, minibuses, motorcycles and a stretch limo with a golden emblem was seen leaving Beijing's airport

Kim's previous journey to Beijing was made using an armoured train that was also used by his father, but on Tuesday he arrived by plane and was taken to meet Xi in a motorcade

Kim's previous journey to Beijing was made using an armoured train that was also used by his father, but on Tuesday he arrived by plane and was taken to meet Xi in a motorcade

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will make a two-day visit to Beijing starting Tuesday following his groundbreaking summit with President Donald Trump in Singapore last week

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will make a two-day visit to Beijing starting Tuesday following his groundbreaking summit with President Donald Trump in Singapore last week

Xi told Kim that he was very happy to see the important consensus reached on denuclearisation and setting up a lasting peace mechanism, Chinese state TV said.

'No matter the changes in the international and regional situation, China's party and government's resolute position on being dedicated to consolidating and developing Sino-North Korea relations will not change,' the report cited Xi as saying.

'The Chinese people's friendship for the North Korean people will not change, and China's support for socialist North Korea will not change,' Xi added.

Kim told Xi he hoped to work with China and other parties to push the peace process forward, Chinese state television said.

While not billed as a state visit, China gave Kim most of the trappings, including a welcome ceremony with honour guard in Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

Xi greeted Kim warmly as the two men were accompanied by their wives.

Xi said he was pleased to see North Korea's decision to promote economic reforms, adding that China's own reform and opening up process had meant the Chinese people's eyes had been open to the world. 

North Korean state media had not mentioned Kim's visit by early evening.

In an unusual move, Chinese state media announced Kim's visit and said he would stay for two days. Previously China would only confirm Kim had visited after he had left the country. 

Kim has made two recent visits to China, North Korea's main ally and key source of trade and economic assistance. Jong-Un is pictured shaking hands with China's President Xi Jinping in May

Kim has made two recent visits to China, North Korea's main ally and key source of trade and economic assistance. Jong-Un is pictured shaking hands with China's President Xi Jinping in May

Chinese bikers honour guards walk at the airport's VIP gate, as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits Beijing

Chinese bikers honour guards walk at the airport's VIP gate, as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits Beijing

Chinese motorbike outriders prepare to escort the North Korean dictator after he arrived in Beijing on Tuesday morning

Chinese motorbike outriders prepare to escort the North Korean dictator after he arrived in Beijing on Tuesday morning

Kim was met by motorcycle guards at Beijing Capital International Airport before being escorted to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse

Kim was met by motorcycle guards at Beijing Capital International Airport before being escorted to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse

Trump agreed to work with Kim toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, committed to provide the North with security guarantees and pledged to end 'war games' with South Korea, which North Korea and China have long seen as provocative.

South Korea and the Pentagon announced they would halt the annual Freedom Guardian military drill scheduled for August.

A Kim trip to China to discuss his summit with Trump had been widely anticipated in diplomatic circles. 

China is North Korea's most important diplomatic and economic backer but has been angered by its nuclear and missile tests.

South Korea's foreign ministry spokesman said South Korea and China shared the strategic goal of completely denuclearising the Korean peninsula.

'Our government hopes China will play a constructive role in resolving this problem,' ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-deok told a regular briefing.

'We hope Chairman Kim Jong Un's visit will contribute to that.' 

China has welcomed the warming of ties between the United States and North Korea, and offered to help.

It has been particularly pleased by Trump's decision to suspend military drills with South Korea. It has long proposed a 'dual suspension', whereby North Korea stops weapons tests and the United States and South Korea stop military drills, to encourage talks.

'South Korea and the United States have agreed to suspend all planning activities regarding the Freedom Guardian military drill scheduled for August,' South Korea's defence ministry said in a statement. 

Following his summit with Trump, Kim (both pictured) was expected to meet with Chinese leaders to discuss progress in halting his country's missile and nuclear weapons programs in exchange for economic incentives

Following his summit with Trump, Kim (both pictured) was expected to meet with Chinese leaders to discuss progress in halting his country's missile and nuclear weapons programs in exchange for economic incentives

Chinese armed policemen guard outside the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing today

Chinese armed policemen guard outside the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing today

Chinese policemen stand guard near the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing

Chinese policemen stand guard near the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing

Police officers direct members of the public away from the state house as Kim meets Xi

Police officers direct members of the public away from the state house as Kim meets Xi

The Pentagon confirmed the suspension, adding in a statement there would be a meeting of the secretaries of defence and state as well as Trump's national security adviser on the issue this week.

Last year, 17,500 American and more than 50,000 South Korean troops joined the Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills, although the exercise is mostly focused on computerized simulations rather than field exercises.

The U.S.-South Korean exercise calendar hits a high point every spring with the Foal Eagle and Max Thunder drills, which both wrapped up last month.

The decision to halt military exercises in South Korea has bewildered many current and former U.S. defence officials, who only learned about it when Trump announced it in Singapore, after the summit with Kim.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said there would be no changes to joint drill plans between the United States and Japan, both of which regularly practise to deter North Korea.

'The United States is in a position to keep its commitment to its allied nations' defence and our understanding is there is no change to the U.S. commitment to the Japan-U.S. alliance and the structure of American troops stationed in Japan,' Suga told a regular briefing.

Japanese Minister of Defence Itsunori Onodera said the decision to suspend the U.S.-South Korean exercises was made to support the diplomatic effort between the United States and North Korea but added it was 'important to be wary of North Korea actions'.

'Our view of the threat has not changed. Joint training is an important in maintaining peace and stability in the region,' he said.    

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