Kim Jong-Il holds summit with Jiang

North Korean Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-Il, who arrived in Beijing from Shanghai Saturday, held a summit with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, a foreign diplomatic source said here.

The source disclosed that the North Korean leader, wrapping up a four-day visit to Shanghai, left the port city Friday night by a special train and arrived in the Chinese capital the following day. That afternoon, Kim and Jiang held a meeting at a state guesthouse in Beijing, the source added.

AFP reported that Kim arrived in Beijing after a 14-hour train trip to meet with the Chinese leader, quoting a member of the Kim entourage.

Another source in Beijing said that Kim's China trip would be formally announced immediately after he crosses the North Korean-Chinese border on his way home. The source said that Kim would leave the Chinese capital on Saturday.

Meanwhile, some Russian media outlets reported that there was a possibility that Kim would visit Russia shortly after completing his trip to China. The media outlets, quoting South Korean sources, said that Kim may visit Moscow before his planned trip to Seoul.

Lee Jong-Hwan ljhzip@donga.com