Kim Jong Un’s visit to Beijing: News analysis

What's next for the Korean peninsula?

North Korean leader secures a Big Brother's protective shadow ahead of Trump meeting

Mr Xi (left) with Mr Kim after their meeting in Beijing this week, in a video grab from footage released by China Central Television yesterday. Mr Kim spoke of a new spring in ties with China. Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim
Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday, in this photo released yesterday by the Korean Central News Agency. At the banquet, at a musical pageant, and at another lunch at the Diaoyutai Guest House, Mr Xi and Mr Kim, watched by their wives, got along like long-lost brothers. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

The flowery accolades would not stop as the world's second most powerful leader all but held his nose to welcome the recalcitrant from neighbouring North Korea whom he had avoided all these years, and who now had shown up in Beijing for his first overseas trip as his nation's leader.

At the formal welcoming banquet at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People, at a musical pageant, and at another lunch at the Diaoyutai Guest House, Mr Xi Jinping and Mr Kim Jong Un, watched by their wives, got along like long-lost brothers.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 29, 2018, with the headline What's next for the Korean peninsula?. Subscribe