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China's President Hu Jintao and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il shake hands at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. The photo was distributed by China's official Xinhua News Agency Thursday.
BEIJING--This week saw what appeared to be a re-injection of warmth and energy in relations between two longtime ideological allies with a shared history of fighting side by side in war.
No. Not that “special relationship” between the U.S. and U.K.
That other one, between North Korea and China.
In the past few days, we have been treated to the pomp and circumstance of President Barack Obama’s visit to Britain—including a Guard of Honor inspection at Buckingham Palace, a state banquet hosted by the Queen, an address to both Houses of Parliament, and dissection within the British media about how their country is back in America’s good graces.
Even China’s 24-hour state-run news channel, CCTV13, devoted significant minutes to covering Obama’s trip and the bond between the two nations—now known as the “essential” relationship.
Contrast that with the coverage of Kim Jong-il’s visit to China this week, which has been virtually nonexistent.
Well, okay, it’s existed, but was essentially unconfirmed until it was over.
Early confirmation of a sort did come from a surprising corner. During a summit with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Japan last weekend, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao mentioned his government had invited Kim to visit “to understand the Chinese development and use it for their own development.”
However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has stuck to its usual line, refusing to comment on the visit.
Just about the only news outlets that have confidently reported the North Korean leader’s trip through China via his special armored train (he doesn't like to fly) have been the South Korean and Japanese ones.
Although grainy sightings of Kim in Jiangsu Province have popped up online, reporters for most other news organizations stuck to using words like “reportedly” and “allegedly” in covering the story.
Even the Chinese government-run Global Times had resorted to quoting other media for its coverage, explaining that, as a rule, officials from both countries don’t comment on rumors or reports of Kim’s visits as they’re in progress.
However, by late Thursday, China's state broadcaster CCTV and Xinhua finally confirmed the visit -- which was seen as an indication that it was over since neither Beijing nor Pyongyang report Kim's visits until after he returns to North Korea.
Among the highlights of Kim’s alleged visit were: tours of factories, an industrial park, and a shopping center; meetings with Wen and President Hu Jintao; and a visit to the Zhongguancun tech corridor in western Beijing.
Pictures, of course, have yet to emerge of the Dear Leader looking at any of these sights. China's official Xinhua News Agency only released the photo of Kim with Hu, seen above, Thursday.
And while some observers have speculated on the reason for Kim's visit (food aid? tips on how to set up a market economy?), there's been plenty more guessing about the identity of a woman in his traveling entourage (wife? translator? the power behind the man?).
It’s believed Kim is already back in North Korea's capital, Pyongyang.
Entertaining related link: Kim Jong Il looking at things
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While the USA BOMBS leaders they don't like (Libya), China decides to TALK with ones they don't like.
Bobby , China loves North Korea. They are buddies in Communism. They gave them the nuclear Bomb and since when did the US and LIBYA become friends? Sounds like you have your facts mixed up.
Bobby must be a troll.
Since when did it become bad to bomb psychopaths who murder 100's of thousands of people and are threatening to murder 1 million more? Bobby sounds like a boob. (And yes, China does love North Korea's government, which keeps its people enslaved in the worst poverty and repression in the world.)
China talks with ones they don't like, friends and fighting together since 1948, get an education based on facts. They fought hand in hand in every battle since 40's.
You are delusional if you think China likes NK, it's only a relationship of benefits.
Besides, PRC got tricked in to the Korean war by the Soviets, PRC didn't really want to fight.
China cares about fuel and food products. NK is the slave labor for china.
That's strange. When did the slave master offer gourmet food, luxury items, jewelery, French wine, etc. to the slave ? I thought is is usually the other way around. I bet China is the slave of NK.
If China is North Korea's, " Big Brother" ,why is the US spending millions on food for them, shouldn't China be spending some of their ,endless amounts of cash,on their good friends? Makes no sense to me
You should get some facts straight before posting.
Hey! I like that jump suite Jong is wearing. Real business and professional looking.
LOVE the stretch waistband! SO fashionable!
The US tries to use its economic weight/status as the #1 World Power to "pressure" countries like North Korea, any Arab country (lol). In combination with this tactic, they also try to "get a hook" in these countries, by offering aid and showing a "friendliness".. So that is why the US gives countries such as these aid; trying to keep the "door of diplomacy" slightly cracked open.. China also is "playing the game" because they know the US can't do much with them because China retains all our freakin debt...
Libya was "ripe" for bombing because that country doesn't have nuclear warhead capability (i.e. good foreign policy target) and it was an opportunity to try and un-seat Gadhafi under the banner of protecting the rebels of Eastern Libya (i.e. those fighting for freedom from their nutcase leader)..
If the US doesn't get ahold of its DEBT, the biggest foreign policy plunder of the 21st century will be the lost of significance to countries of the world re: our ability to "make things happen"...
It's MSNBC. I thought "Great Leader" meant Obama.
Me too
Oh, because it didn't fit your preconceived notions? I wonder what else you are wrong about?
Funny. I never heard anyone refer to Pres. Obama as "the Great Leader". You guys have let your bias all hang out.
America has been lacking a good leader, we got a socialite instead.
"It's MSNBC. I thought "Great Leader" meant Obama."
It is still not too late to see how wrong you can be.
Mississippi Joe got it right. Il is North Korea's answer to Adolph Hitler. That anyone in the West would send Pyongyang anything other than an ICBM is just disgusting.
When I first scanned the headline, I thought, Obama can't be in China and Europe at the same time. Obama would make a "Great Leader" of CHINA, but never in a free society. Obama came out of the Whitehouse last week and saw his shadow. Now we have one more year of unemployment to look forward to.
You know, that joke is so old it could vote. Two years of teabagger whining is really beginning to get old.
Two and a half years of failed leadership from an incompetent nitwit, is getting older........
JAA, funny that you handled 8 years of GW's incompetence
Karl, how is employment rate going in your bailiwick, or gas prices for that matter? Not too good here, and the rest of the nation, for that matter. And don't bring up the tripling the largest deficit of the Bush administration. Do you like paying for Obamacare for three years before the law goes into effect fully? The man is either the smartest socialist/marxist that ever came our way, or he is the dumbest individual that has ever even visited the White House. Other than those insignificant items, he is doing soooo great, isn't he?
The Obamacare fiasco, the Unemployment, the Fuel prices, please someone tell me why Obama is not WORKING on our debt. Why is he always traveling and glad handing the rest of the World? Could someone tell me please how much it costs to fuel up this nations private PLANE every time they need to socialize! Diplomacy is one thing, but we need a leader who stays home to deal with our issues so we do retain "our ability to make things happen" as Chicago Curtis stated so well.
The Communist Party in China uses their puppet in North Korea as their attack dog. The Chinese Communist charade of being miffed at Kim Jong il is very transparent. Like a good little pet, he does what they tell him to do. This gives China a lot of positive public relations as they act like the aggrieved pet owner while Kim Jong il chomps at their neighbors' legs.
Exactly, well said.
The North Koreans will be feed---good
Which begs the question : Why isn't China in the G8 Summit?
They weren't worthy enough to be invited, and that's why they "arranged" this meeting with Kim to say that they are too busy dealing with important issues.
Kim looks healthier in this picture than he has looked in some time. Succession of power to his son may be still a few years off.
China uses Kim Jong-il as the United States uses Netanyahu- both are destabilizing, opportunity creating, self serving extremists in politically sensitive regions. Both monsters are only restrained by the thin, delicate leashes of their masters- and both lunge to the furthest reach of that leash on command at convenient moments.
An excellent, thought-provoking comparison.
How quickly we forget that China is still a communist country. North Korea is their cousin.
Neither of these are communist of any color. They are all authoritarian dictatorship with a lot of state owned enterprises. They are state controlled capitalism to the extreme. The sole purpose of the state is to exploit the people for the interest of the government officials and cadre.
"Never was so much, owed by so many, to so few" Great Britian will always stand tall in my opinion. With great resolve they stood alone for two years against the greatest threat to humanity in the Twentieth Century -- Nazism. The more I digest the history of this period the more my appreciation, admiration, and affection grow.
Only two years ? China did it for 30, and then another 30. The first 30 was against Japan, the other 30 was against the Chinese Communist Party. But the Chinese Communist Party's aggression towards China was a self inflicted disaster. It is something the Chinese people loved, support, and won't give-up. They want to be slaves forever.
Kim Il Sung was the "Great Leader." Kim Jong Il is known as "Dear Leader."
And they will soon be Ill Kim Jong.
Point of order, Obama is Dear Leader.
Why does anybody care if Nk Leader goes to China, I say so what, it is none of our business what he does and if China wants to be firends with another dictator good for them. It can not always be about the USA can it. The world still goes around each day nomatter what they do and if NK want Nukes so what, but the first time he uses them on somebody well that will be the end of NK and I think that he know that. I think we have more inportant things in the USA to worrie about, I mean look at all the bad weather we are having and people are dieing look at the war we are in, is that not enough to think about. I say spend more time on our own stuff and quite worrieing about what everybody else is doing.
What is a fireend? Looks like you just had a lengthy about how we should spend more time on ourselves. Try practicing what you preach.
G8 is for democratic nations...China isn't one. But then that would beg the next question: why Russia is in G8?
Russia was invited for its importance in world economy, and their civilized ways. China was not.
Yeah, you already said that Dave. This is probably the most attention your post is gonna get, no matter how many times you repost.
When I read the "Title - Great and Dear Leader is in China" - I thought they meant Obama.....seriously....
That was my take on it, JJA. Seriously, also.
And yes, USA does love zionist israel government, which keeps idf thugs to oppress Palestinian in poverty and repression. USA gave israel the nuclear bombs and other lethal weapons.
Palestinians will always be in poverty and repression, by their own hand mostly. Everywhere they go they wear out their welcome quickly. No amount of money, advice, or help will get them over their muslim background. The only Palestinians living decently,in the middle east, are living in --Presto-- Israel. America has spent billions on them and they remain the same as they have lived for thousands of years.
The Great Leader? How did you come up with that as a lead in to the story? Your calling someone who starves its people Great?
You have a sick twisted way of getting people to read your drivel.
The little munchkin should be jailed for crimes against humanity..
Just two words to describe the title of this article. Who cares?