Aug. 26 – North Korea’s enigmatic leader Kim Jong-il has apparently left his country and traveled across the border into China, according to sources at South Korea’s presidential office.
“We’re detecting moves that Kim Jong-il is traveling to China,” the source told Reuters. “If he hasn’t arrived he is on his way.”
Kim rarely leaves his home country but, if reports are true, this would be his second trip to China this year. North Korea’s 68-year-old supreme leader, who has a fear of flying, traveled by private train to Beijing in May to talk with Chinese government officials including Hu Jintao in his first trip outside the country in four years.
The five-day visit in May came after an international report named North Korea responsible for the sinking of the South Korean naval vessel the Cheonan in March which claimed the lives of 46 sailors. Beijing says it is “unconvinced” by the report and remains loyal to North Korea as its primary ally – continuing to provide the isolated nation with supplies and financial support.
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