Top DPRK leader's envoy visits China

A special envoy of Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), left Pyongyang Wednesday for a visit to China, the official KCNA news agency reported.

Choe Ryong Hae, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army (KPA) and member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee, left Pyongyang by air for the visit, the KCNA said.

He was accompanied by KPA Col. Gen. Ri Yong Gil, Vice Department Director of the WPK Central Committee Kim Song Nam, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hyong Jun and KPA Lieut. Gen. Kim Su Gil.

The report did not give details of the visit or its itinerary.

It is the first time that a DPRK envoy visits China since Kim took power after his father Kim Jong Il died in December 2011.

The visit comes as South Korean President Park Geun-hye is expected to visit Beijing next month.