N. Korea's top diplomat departs for China: KCNA

▲ This undated image, captured from Korean Central Television, shows North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

NK FM-China visit

N. Korea's top diplomat departs for China: KCNA

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui has departed Pyongyang for a trip to China, state media reported Sunday.

Aboard a chartered plane, Choe and her party left the country Saturday to visit China, seen off by ministry officials and Chinese Ambassador Wang Yajun, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

The trip will take place at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi from Saturday to Tuesday, China's foreign ministry has previously announced.

The planned trip comes as North Korea is preparing a large-scale military parade to mark the 80th founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on Oct. 10. The North is reported to be inviting state leaders to the event.

The trip follows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's high-profile attendance at China's military parade in Beijing on Sept. 3 and his subsequent talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping the next day. Choe accompanied Kim on the latest trip to China.

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