NIS: Kim Jong Un may have conveyed North Korea's US-talks stance to China in Dandong
In short
South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) told parliament on 29 October that Kim Jong Un may have conveyed North Korea's position on talks with the US to Chinese leaders during his recent visit to Dandong. It said the delegation's make-up did not fit a purely commemorative trip. The NIS also said the US and North Korea have not yet made contact because of differences over conditions for talks.
Read the full story 2 min read
South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on 29 October that Kim Jong Un, North Korea's State Affairs Commission chairman, may have conveyed Pyongyang's position on talks with the United States to Chinese leaders during his recent visit to Dandong, Liaoning province. According to Seoul Shinmun and Dong-A Ilbo, the agency reported this to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee at an audit held at the NIS building, and the committee's two party secretaries, Yun Kun-young of the Democratic Party and Yu Young-ha of the People Power Party, relayed it to reporters. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
KCNA reported on 25 October that Kim visited Dandong on 24 October, ahead of China's Korean War entry anniversary, reaffirming the blood-sealed ties between North Korea and China and expressing the will to carry on their friendship. The NIS described the trip as a same-day visit and judged that it had purposes beyond the anniversary. It said that given Kim's tendency to check sites in person, he also aimed to inspect the New Yalu River Bridge. [ 1 , 3 , 6 ]
The NIS said the delegation's make-up did not fit the stated reason for the visit. No senior military figures were included, and the group consisted mainly of diplomats such as Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui. On the Chinese side, foreign-policy officials such as Foreign Minister Wang Yi mainly attended, and few economic officials took part on either side. The agency said that after Chinese President Xi Jinping's June visit to North Korea and the high-level exchange visits in July, there appeared to be no special economic issue for the leaders to resolve. [ 3 , 6 ]
The NIS also noted that Chinese Premier Li Qiang, originally due to receive Kim, was replaced by Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. The agency attributed the change to the Communist Party's Fifth Plenum schedule and other matters. Yun said local staff had believed Li Qiang was hosting the event until it ended. The NIS noted that Wang has been a go-between for Kim and Xi since Kim's first China visit in 2018 and visited North Korea in July, and judged that China put forward someone acceptable to Pyongyang. [ 3 , 6 ]
The NIS saw Kim's frequent use of Choe at non-diplomatic political events, and her prominence on this trip, as a sign that he is weighing a US-North Korea meeting. Yu said North Korean media showed Choe talking closely with Wang Yi apart from the lead group. On the state of talks, the NIS said the US and North Korea have not yet made contact because of differences over conditions, but it is keeping open and preparing for a possible shift around the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
Dong-A Ilbo also reported that the NIS said Kim's daughter Kim Ju Ae has been gradually presented as a successor since her first appearance in 2022. It said NIS director Lee Jong-seok called a report that he was refused entry to the US a clear misreport and said only some intelligence is restricted in sharing with the US. [ 6 ]
Why it matters
The assessment, relayed by two lawmakers after a parliamentary audit, is the NIS view of how Pyongyang and Beijing may be handling possible talks with Washington. The NIS said it is preparing for a possible shift around the APEC summit.
Key facts
- The NIS said on 29 October that Kim Jong Un's recent trip to Dandong had a purpose beyond marking the anniversary of China's Korean War entry, and that he may have conveyed North Korea's stance on US talks to Chinese leadership. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- KCNA reported on 25 October that Kim visited Dandong in Liaoning province on 24 October, ahead of China's Korean War entry anniversary, reaffirming the blood-sealed ties between the two countries. [ 1 , 6 ]
- The NIS said the delegation was made up mainly of diplomats such as Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, with no senior military figures, and that few economic officials attended on either side. [ 3 , 6 ]
- The NIS said the Chinese official meant to receive Kim was changed from Premier Li Qiang to Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. [ 3 , 6 ]
- The NIS said the US and North Korea have not yet made contact because of differences over conditions for talks, but it is keeping open the possibility of a shift around the APEC summit. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- The NIS reported this at a National Assembly Intelligence Committee audit; the committee's two party secretaries, Yun Kun-young and Yu Young-ha, relayed it to the press. [ 3 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The NIS assessed that Kim Jong Un may have conveyed North Korea's position on talks with the US to China's leadership during the Dandong visit. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- The NIS reported that the US and North Korea have not yet made contact because of differences over conditions for talks, and that it is keeping open a possible shift around the APEC summit. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- The NIS said the delegation was led by diplomats rather than military figures, which it saw as at odds with the stated reason for the visit. [ 3 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Kim actually conveyed North Korea's position on US talks to Chinese leaders. The NIS only said this was possible; no document confirms what was discussed.
- Why the Chinese reception official was changed. The NIS attributed the change from Li Qiang to Wang Huning to the Communist Party's Fifth Plenum schedule and other matters, and said China may have chosen someone suited to North Korea; no Chinese statement is given.
- Remarks by NIS director Lee Jong-seok on Kim Ju Ae, his reported US entry refusal and US intelligence sharing. Only one outlet (Dong-A Ilbo) reports them, as relayed by the two lawmakers.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap published a flash report on the NIS assessment. [ 1 ]
- Newsis published its flash report, adding that the NIS sees a possible shift around the APEC summit. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Shinmun published a detailed report on the NIS audit briefing. [ 3 ]
- Yonhap published a fuller summary of the NIS assessment. [ 5 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo published its report, including the NIS director's other remarks. [ 6 ]