North Korean state media highlights Xi's visit with extensive front-page coverage

SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - North Korean state media gave extensive coverage to Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pyongyang earlier this week, highlighting close ties between the two traditional allies.

In its Wednesday edition, the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper devoted four of its six pages to Xi's two-day visit and his summit with leader Kim Jong-un.

Along with more than 50 photos, it carried detailed accounts of Xi's itinerary in Pyongyang, from his arrival on Monday to his departure the following day.

The paper also revealed a letter from Xi expressing gratitude for the summit and the hospitality shown during his stay to Kim, who rolled out a red carpet and made a rare appearance to greet him at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport.

It came after the newspaper went even further the previous day, adding extra pages for full coverage of Xi's visit, along with more than 80 photos.
  The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) also reported the same day that Kim and Xi held in-depth discussions on issues of "common concern" and "reached a series of important agreements," in what appears to be part of efforts to repair ties that have grown somewhat strained in recent years, as North Korea has moved closer to Russia.

Many North Korea watchers expected the North's denuclearization to be discussed, especially after U.S. statements that Beijing and Washington had agreed to pursue it during Xi's summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing last month. But it was apparently left off the agenda of talks between Kim and Xi.

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