NIS says Kim may have conveyed stance on US talks during China visit

The National Intelligence Service told lawmakers that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may have conveyed Pyongyang's position on talks with the United States during his recent visit to China. The NIS presented this as an assessment of a possible communication of that position.

The assessment was delivered during a closed-door audit by the parliamentary intelligence committee. Rep. Youn Kun-young of the Democratic Party and Rep. Yoo Yeong-ha of the People Power Party relayed the NIS's assessment.

The NIS cited the presence of senior diplomats, including Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, rather than military officials in Kim's entourage during the China visit. On that basis, it assessed that the trip may have had a purpose beyond commemorating China's participation in the Korean War.

Kim made a one-day visit to Dandong, China, on Saturday, meeting China's top political adviser Wang Huning and visiting a war memorial. The trip took place as North Korea and China pursued stronger ties.

The NIS assessed that China could cautiously convey Kim's position to the United States but did not appear intent on actively mediating US-North Korea talks. It also said North Korea and the United States had yet to narrow their differences over conditions for dialogue.