Top Chinese official visits North Korea to discuss boosting cooperation in highest-level meeting in years

In their highest-level meeting in five years, Chinese and North Korean leaders met as a standoff builds with the U.S. and South Korea. More meetings are expected in the coming year.

Zhao met his North Korean counterpart Choe Ryong Hae later Thursday and discussed how to promote exchanges and cooperation on all areas such as politics, economy and culture, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported.

The two also exchanged views on unspecified regional and international issues of mutual concerns, KCNA said.