Kim Jong-un’s visit to Beijing this week gave the world a rare glimpse of the North Korean leader doing something he normally leaves to others – diligently taking notes while Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke during their meeting.

Back home, Kim is famous for surrounding himself with note-taking generals and senior officials during tours of the hermit state, as pictured in North Korean media, and in line with a tradition that officials should heed the “on the spot” guidance of the country’s supreme leader.

But this was Kim’s first overseas trip since he took power in 2011 and he was projecting a far more humble image, after engaging in a war of words with US President Donald Trump over the North’s nuclear weapons programme that saw him just six months ago call Trump a “dotard”.

In lengthy footage aired by state broadcaster China Central Television on Wednesday, 33-year-old Kim is seen listening attentively, his head lowered, and taking notes as Xi tells him they should cherish the bilateral relations built by the two nations’ forefathers.

More than 30 years his senior, Xi sits on the other side of the conference table, smiling and sometimes nodding as Kim carefully reads from a script in front of him when it is his turn to speak.

Kim told Xi that it was his duty to congratulate the Chinese president in person on last week’s confirmation of his second term in power, according to a dispatch from official news agency Xinhua that shed light on the otherwise mysterious first meeting of two of the world’s most watched leaders.

“He [Kim] said it was his obligation to come to congratulate Xi in person, in line with the [North Korea]-China friendly tradition,” Xinhua reported.

Keep up the sanctions against North Korea, former diplomats say

In a major political victory for Xi, the annual legislative session that closed last week saw lawmakers remove the limit on his term as president, enshrine his theory in the constitution, and put his allies in key positions.

Kim, wearing a dour Mao suit and glasses, is seen unsmiling as he stands side by side with Xi during a reception ceremony, in rare footage captured on foreign cameras rather than by his own propaganda machine.

But his diplomatic skills will be put the test when Kim – who has threatened the world with continued missile and nuclear tests – meets South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April, followed by talks with Trump in May.

During his meeting with Xi on Monday night, the Chinese president reminded Kim of the “precious wealth” of bilateral relations that had been “meticulously cultivated” by the two nations’ previous leaders, but it was unclear whether he mentioned Kim’s father and grandfather by name.

Xi was flanked by top aides including Politburo Standing Committee member Wang Huning, Politburo member Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minster Wang Yi. Xi’s trusted ally, Vice-President Wang Qishan, also attended the banquet with Kim that followed the meeting.

Donald Trump tweets that he and Kim Jong-un are ‘looking forward’ to meeting

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency described the meeting as “candid” and said Kim thanked Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan for receiving him like a “blood brother”.

According to one analyst, Kim appeared deferential partly because Xi has consolidated his power – he is now considered China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong – and partly in preparation for the high-stakes meeting with Trump.

“North Korea, whether it likes it or not, has to take a kneel to China, and to communicate to China that it respects China and it needs China ... it cannot do it alone without Chinese support, so this is a very humbling moment for North Korea in a sense,” said Graham Ong-Webb, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.</s>Unconfirmed reports say that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of historic summits with South Korea and the U.S.</s>A mystery train pulled into Beijing, fueling speculation that it might be carrying North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un. If so, it would be Kim's first trip out of the country since taking power in 2011. @benstracy reporting. https://t.co/hoLGy2g1cY pic.twitter.com/kCD9iSwDB2</s>Six years after inheriting power from his father, Kim Jong Un has established his authority domestically, taken North Korea to unprecedented nuclear heights, and is now looking to flex his muscles abroad.

Kim's shock visit to Beijing -- traditionally Pyongyang's strongest backer, although the relationship has soured during his time in power -- is the first time he is known to have set foot outside the impoverished North since he assumed the leadership.

But Kim, who is in his mid-thirties, has repeatedly shown an ability to stamp an outsized footprint on the global stage without ever leaving home.

The third member of the Kim dynasty to rule the North, he has turned his country into a bona fide nuclear power with intercontinental ballistic missiles he says can reach across the globe, including the United States -- with state media regularly picturing him overseeing launches.

And he secured a major diplomatic breakthrough for his ostracised regime earlier this month when US President Donald Trump said he would be willing to hold summit talks with the young leader.

It is a marked contrast to the situation when he took over in his 20s, when he was considered untested, vulnerable and likely to be manipulated by senior figures in an opaque and ruthless country.

But he has proved his mettle in dealing harshly -- sometimes brutally -- with any sign of dissent, even at the highest levels, while maintaining an aggressively provocative stance with the international community.

At home Kim has amassed absolute control over both the party and the military, at times ruthlessly purging potential rivals.

The most senior victim was his uncle and mentor Jang Song Thaek, who was suddenly executed in 2013, denounced by state media as "despicable human scum" and proclaimed guilty of a variety of colourful crimes and political sins.

Then there was the brazen daylight assassination last year of his half-brother Kim Jong Nam, sprayed with a deadly nerve agent as he walked through Kuala Lumpur's international airport, in a hit most analysts say could only have come from Pyongyang.

Rights groups say abuses are rampant in the North, where between 80,000 and 120,000 prisoners languish in political prison camps.

But Kim has also been keen to project a softer side, at least in official propaganda.

Unlike his father, who rarely smiled or spoke in public, the carefully vetted images of Kim Jong Un's heavily choreographed appearances show a more garrulous figure, laughing and joking with officers, soldiers and civilians during field trips, as well as giving speeches to packed halls of party functionaries.

He has noticeably modelled his image on that of his grandfather Kim Il Sung, appearing to mimic his hairstyle, dress, mannerisms and public speaking style.

But unlike the North's founder, whose youth was dominated by the anti-Japanese struggle, Kim Jong Un has led a life of luxury.

He was born to his father's third wife, Japan-born ethnic Korean dancer Ko Yong Hui, who is believed to have died of breast cancer in 2004.

Much of his early history is still surrounded in mystery -- so much so that even his precise date of birth is unclear.

Kim was sent to school in Switzerland, where he was looked after by his maternal aunt Ko Yong Suk and her husband.

School staff and friends, who were reportedly unaware that he was a member of North Korea's ruling family, remembered him as a shy boy who liked skiing, Hollywood tough guy Jean-Claude Van Damme and basketball.

He is said to have known that he would become North Korea's leader from his eighth birthday, when he received a general's uniform and the country's military top brass bowed to him.

But Kim only entered the public eye in 2008 when his father suffered a stroke and Pyongyang revved up plans for the nation's second dynastic succession.

Pyongyang is extremely sensitive and protective when it comes to the image of the ruling family, and Kim's father and grandfather are ubiquitous, their portraits adorning every home and office in the country while their bodies lie in state at the capital's Kumsusan Palace.

Despite his overseas education, Kim Jong Un is not known to have made any previous foreign trips since coming to power, and the most prominent American he has met is his basketball idol Dennis Rodman, who has made multiple visits to Pyongyang.

That makes Kim's journey to Beijing a diplomatic "coming out" ahead of planned summits with Trump and South Korea's President Moon Jae-in.</s>An arrival of a special North Korean train and heightened security in Beijing had led the media to believe Kim was in town but neither Beijing nor Pyongyang let on until Wednesday morning

After keeping it under wraps and the world guessing, China on Wednesday announced North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was indeed in Beijing, and met Chinese President Xi Jinping. An arrival of a special North Korean train and heightened security in Beijing had led the media to believe Kim was in town but neither Beijing nor Pyongyang let on until Wednesday morning when China's state-controlled Xinhua news agency flashed the news.

The news outlet described Kim's visit from Sunday to Wednesday as "unofficial" and said the North Korean leader and Xi discussed Korean Peninsula nuclear crisis. Kim told Xi that the situation on the Korean Peninsula was improving, as Pyongyang has taken the initiative to ease tensions and decided to talk to Seoul and Washington. A reclusive Kim is due to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in next month and US President Donald Trump in May on North Korea's nuclear tests.

China is North Korea's sole ally. Their friendship dates back to the Korean War when Beijing stood by Pyongyang. However, North's testing of ballistic missiles by defying sanctions has frustrated China which is wary of a war in the neighbourhood. "It is our consistent stand to be committed to denuclearisation on the peninsula, in accordance with the will of late President Kim Il Sung and late General Secretary Kim Jong Il," Kim told Xi.

Kim said North Korea is determined to transform the inter-Korean ties into a relationship of reconciliation and cooperation and hold summit between the heads of the two sides. Pypongyang is willing to have dialogue with the US and hold a summit of the two countries, he said. "The issue of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the US respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realisation of peace," said Kim.

Xi said positive changes had taken place on the Korean Peninsula since this year, and China appreciates the important efforts made by North Korea. Xi said China sticks to the goal of denuclearisation of the peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula and solving problems through dialogue and consultation.

China calls on all parties to support the improvement of inter-Korean ties, and take concrete efforts to facilitate peace talks, said Xi, noting China will continue to play constructive role on the issue and work with all parties, including North Korea, toward the thaw of the situation in the peninsula.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever</s>Ri Sol-ju was pictured accompanying husband Kim Jong-un as he visited Beijing this week - but just who is the dictator's wife?

Very little is known about Ri, including her exact age, who her parents are and what her life was like before marrying Kim.

Even her name remains a mystery, as observers believe Ri is actually a pseudonym designed to keep her life before marriage a secret.

She was first pictured on Kim's arm in 2012 at a concert and North Korea subsequently confirmed she was Kim's wife, but said nothing else about her.

She then appeared with him multiple times between 2012 and 2014 before largely disappearing from public view until recently, when her presence became much more pronounced.

Sources speaking in the South Korean media when she was first identified said she is a former cheerleader and singer, and gave her date of birth as some time between 1985 and 1989.

She was said to have been pictured in 2005 visiting South Korea during the Asian Athletics Championships as part of the North Korean cheerleading squad.

Others said she was a singer with the Unhasu orchestra who may have performed for Kim and his father, Kim Jong-il, during a New Year concert in 2010.

'There is a possibility Jong-un chose her as his wife after seeing her at the concert hall,' the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said at the time.

There was a North Korean singer by the name of Ri Sol-ju, the BBC reported, but it has never been confirmed if she and Ki'ms wife are the same person.

South Korean security services agree that she is a singer, but say her name is actually Hyon Song-wol and was changed after marriage.

Elsewhere, the BBC reported that Ri was hastily married to Kim in 2009 as part of a succession plan drawn up by Kim Jong-il after he suffered a stroke.

It is believed she gave birth to their first child the following year with subsequent births taking place in 2013 and possibly in 2016, after she disappeared from public.

According to US basketball star Dennis Rodman, who is an unlikely friend of Kim, their middle child is called Ju-ae, after he let the information slip in an interview.

Nothing is known about the other children.

Before marrying Kim, Ri was reportedly sent to Kim Il-sung University, the country's most prestigious, to study a six-month course in being the first lady.

It has also been reported that she obtained a science degree from the same university years earlier.

According to AFP Ri was born in the northeastern province of North Hamkyong to an academic father and a doctor mother.

That would make her part of the political elite, since such positions are reserved only for those who are most loyal to the regime.

She is also said to be related to Ri Pyong-chol, a former air force general and close advisor of Kim Jong-un.

Ri is also known for her love of fine fashion, which is unusual in North Korea.

When she was first described by the country's press she was said to be wearing 'a trim black suit in the Chanel tradition' and once gifted a Dior bag to Kenji Fujimoto, Kim Jong-il's sushi chef.

Fujimoto claimed to have met her and described her as 'just so charming... I cannot describe her voice, it's so soft...'.

South Korean diplomats who traveled to the North for talks with Kim Jong-un recently said Ri joined him at the negotiating table.

They said the pair were an affectionate couple and 'seemed equal'.</s>BEIJING—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paid a surprise visit to China this week, in his first known foreign trip since taking power in late 2011.

During a stop in Beijing, Mr. Kim met Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior officials, where they discussed bilateral ties and Korean peninsula tensions, Chinese state media said Wednesday.</s>North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have held talks in Beijing, in Kim's first foreign trip since taking office. Kim's wife reportedly accompanied him.

Both Chinese and North Korean state media have confirmed that Kim is on a state visit to China. Kim arrived at the invitation of the Chinese president, according to North Korean media.

The visit, the details of which had been veiled in secrecy, was also confirmed by the South Korean president’s office. Yoon Young-chan, the chief presidential press secretary, told media on Wednesday that Seoul had been notified by China of Kim’s upcoming visit.</s>A senior North Korean official makes a mysterious visit to Beijing, and reports say it might even be the country's leader Kim Jong Un. Grace Lee reports.</s>China broke its day-long silence on Tuesday and finally acknowledged North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit and meeting with Kim paid a four-day unofficial visit-from Sunday to Wednesday to Beijing on an invitation from Xi, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Kim reportedly arrived in China by a special train from across the border and left in the same train yesterday. During the visit, which was kept under the wraps, Xi held talks with Kim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi and his wife held a welcoming banquet for Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju. They watched an art performance together, the report said. Premier Li Keqiang, Vice-President Wang Qishan and other top leaders of the ruling Chinese Communist Party of China, (CPC) attended related activities, it said. This was Kim's first visit abroad since he took power in 2011. Kim travelled to the Chinese capital because he felt compelled to personally inform of the rapid diplomatic developments on the Korean Peninsula in recent weeks, according to China's state-run Xinhua news agency. Kim also called for a "new era" in bilateral relations in a letter to Xi published on North Korean state media and invited the Chinese President to visit Pyongyang. There had been no word of Kim planning a summit with Beijing, however. China has been one of North Korea's most important allies, but relations have grown chilly because of Kim's development of and long-range missiles. Key points Xi hosted a grand banquet for Kim at the Great Hall of the People Kim reiterated his commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula Here are the highlights of Kim Jong-un's first visit to China 1) Kim visits Xi Jinping to congratulate him on re-election: Kim said a series of major and happy events had taken place consecutively in China recently and referred Xi's re-election for the second term. Kim said it was his obligation to come congratulate Xi in person, in line with the DPRK-China friendly tradition, the report said. ALSO READ: Kim Jong-un visited China, held talks with Xi Jinping 2) Xi Jinping speaks highly of Kim Jong-un's visit: Chinese has held talks with leader in Beijing during the trip, which reportedly took place from March 25 to 28. The Chinese state media on Wednesday confirmed that made a surprise trip to Beijing. Xi and his wife held a welcoming banquet for Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju, reported China's state-run news agency Xinhua. "We speak highly of this visit," Xi said. 3) Traditional China-DPRK friendship should be developed further: Xi underscored the China-DPRK friendship, saying, "This is a strategic choice and the only right choice both sides have made based on history and reality, the and regional structure and the general situation of China-DPRK ties. This should not and will not change because of any single event at a particular time." 4) China is a traditional ally and major trading partner for North Korea: The China-North Korean relations went through some testing times since Kim took over as the supreme leader of the country as he pressed ahead with his nuclear programme disregarding caution from Beijing. Relations between the two countries have been strained after Beijing beefed up UN sanctions by blocking essential supplies like oil and coal following pressure from Trump. 5) Xi Jinping made 4 proposals to for China-DPRK relations: i. Continuation of high-level exchange, including close communication between him and Kim

iii. Cement the popular will foundation for China-DPRK friendship enhancing people to people contacts

6) Preparations on for Trump-Kim summit, says White House: The United States continues to move forward on the proposed summit meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the White House has said. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders on Tuesday told reporters that preparations were on for the summit, which has been accepted by Trump at the request of Pyongyang. "We are continuing to move forward. The offer was extended and accepted, and were continuing to move forward in that process. We still don't have a set time or date on that front," Sanders said in response to a question.

7) China earlier kept mum on North Korea's visit to Beijing: "I am not aware of any information at present. If we have some information, we will release it in due course," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press conference.

Although Hua did not confirm if North Korean leader had made his first visit to China since assuming power six years ago, he did say the two countries were "traditional friends" and still had "normal exchanges" despite recent sanctions by Beijing on Pyongyang in line with several resolutions of the UN Security Council, reports Efe news agency.

8) Like father, like son: The presence of was along the lines of the trips to Beijing by his father, Kim Jong-il, who used to come in a special train, amid heavy security deployments at key points in the Chinese capital, and complete silence by the authorities of both countries until the North Korean leader had returned to his country.

9) The train journey: Japanese media reports said a special North Korean train arrived in Beijing under unusually heavy security, suggesting a senior delegation might have been aboard.

The reports sparked speculation that leader might have been aboard the train. Heavy security was reported at the Friendship Bridge before the train passed from to China, and there were reports of it passing through several stations on the way from to Beijing.

The NTV network said the green and yellow train appears very similar to the one that former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un's late father, took to Beijing in 2011 and has 21 cars.
North Korean Supreme leader Kim Jong-un meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, on what is his first known travel outside North Korea since assuming office in 2011.