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                     North Korea's Kim Sends Envoy to China

   North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sent a special envoy to China, at a
   time of strained relations between the two traditional allies.
   The official Korean Central News Agency said Choe Ryong Hae, the
   director of the General Political Bureau of the North Korean army, left
   Pyongyang for China Wednesday. The brief report provided no details
   about the purpose of the trip.
   Choe is believed to be the highest-level official Pyongyang has sent to
   Beijing since Mr. Kim took over leadership of the country following the
   death of his father in late 2011.
   China has long been North Korea`s main ally and primary economic
   lifeline. But there are signs that the new leadership in Beijing is
   growing impatient with the North.
   Earlier this year, the state-run Bank of China halted business with
   North Korea`s main foreign exchange bank, in a move seen by many as a
   sign Beijing is willing to comply more rigidly with U.N. sanctions
   against Pyongyang`s nuclear program.
   The latest irritant in the two countries` relations came this month,
   when unidentified North Koreans seized 16 Chinese fishermen and their
   boat in the waters between China and the Korean peninsula.
   Beijing has demanded an investigation of the incident. The fishermen
   were released safely on Tuesday.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/north-koreas-kim-sends-envoy-to-china
   /1665796.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/north-koreas-kim-sends-envoy-to-china/1665796.html