Report: North Korean special train arrives in China amid speculation of visit by Kim Jong Il

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Report: NKorean special train arrives in China

SEOUL, South Korea — A special train from North Korea arrived in a Chinese border city early Saturday amid speculation of a visit to the country by Kim Jong Il, a news report said, though the reclusive communist leader’s whereabouts remained unclear.

A possible visit comes as the United States and regional powers including China are pressing nuclear-armed North Korea to rejoin stalled negotiations aimed at ending its atomic weapons programs.

The train that arrived in Dandong at about 2:50 a.m. local time (1850 GMT; 2:50 p.m. EDT) appeared to be carrying Kim but could also be an advance train preceding a trip, Yonhap news agency reported, quoting an anonymous South Korean government official. It was not confirmed whether Kim was aboard, Yonhap said.

Speculation by media, analysts and South Korea’s government of a trip to China by Kim has increased in recent days. South Korea’s presidential office told reporters Wednesday there was a high possibility a visit was in the works. The reclusive Kim rarely travels abroad and only under tight security. He last visited China in January 2006.

The National Intelligence Service, South Korea’s main spy agency, said it was checking the Yonhap report. An official in the office of President Lee Myung-bak said South Korea is closely monitoring the situation, though it has not obtained specific information. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the issue’s sensitivity.

Kim, who alternates between hard-line and concessionary approaches to the outside world, could give China a diplomatic gift by promising to return to the Beijing-hosted disarmament talks in exchange for Chinese aid to resolve its chronic food shortage and economic difficulties.

As the North’s key ally and biggest aid provider, China is widely seen as the country with the most clout with Pyongyang. Its influence is seen as key to getting North Korea to return to the six-nation talks that involve the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan.

North Korea quit the forum last year and conducted a second underground nuclear test, resulting in tighter U.N. sanctions. The regime has demanded they be lifted and called for peace talks formally ending the 1950-53 Korean War before it returns.

The U.S., South Korea and Japan say the North must first return to the negotiations and make progress in denuclearization.

Chinese officials reached by The Associated Press on Saturday morning at the border in Dandong, the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing and the North Korean embassy in Beijing either said they didn’t have information on the train or would not comment.

Yonhap said later in a separate report that Kim did not appear to have left for China, citing a North Korean radio report that he attended an art performance. The radio report Saturday did not mention the time and location of the performance.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency also reported Saturday that Kim attended the performance without giving the time and location.

South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper also reported on its Web site that the train which arrived in Dandong was confirmed as a cargo train and that Kim’s special train appeared to be in North Korea as of 8 a.m. local time there (2300 GMT). The newspaper cited an unidentified Chinese source.

South Korean media reported earlier this week that several North Korean and Chinese officials were seen checking a rail bridge in Dandong.

Speculation of a Kim trip in early April has been partially fueled by diplomatic and legislative calendars in China and North Korea.

Chinese President Hu Jintao is scheduled to visit the United States for a nuclear security summit April 12-13 before traveling to South America. North Korea’s rubber stamp parliament, meanwhile, is expected to convene on April 9.

Increasing talk of Kim’s possible visit also comes amid speculation that the 68-year-old leader is preparing to hand power over to his youngest son, the Swiss-educated Kim Jong Un, believed to be in his mid-20s.

Kim Jong Il, who suffered an apparent stroke in 2008, has appeared noticeably gaunt in public appearances over the last year, though South Korea believes he remains in charge in North Korea.

His health is of keen interest because of concerns that his sudden death could trigger instability and a power struggle.

Associated Press researcher Henry Hou in Beijing contributed to this report.