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The law of 43 days for Kim Jong Un?

Posted June. 20, 2018 07:18,   

Updated June. 20, 2018 07:18

한국어

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s third visit to China has led some diplomatic observers to think up “the law of 43 days,” as his three visits to Beijing this year have been all made with an interval of exactly 43 days.

Kim made his first trip to China by train on March 25 to 28 (including two days onboard the train). During the young leader’s first foreign trip, he was welcomed with the utmost hospitality, having lunch and dinner with Chinese President Xi Jinping and first lady Peng Liyuan. “This is my solemn duty as someone who should value and continue North Korea-China relations through generations,” Kim said at the summit with Xi.

On May 7, exactly 43 days after the first trip, Kim flew to Dalian in northeastern China’s Liaoning Province for the second meeting with President Xi. Kim was seen taking notes of Xi’s comments, prompting speculation that Beijing might have provided guidelines ahead of the North Korea-U.S. summit.


Won-Jae Jang peacechaos@donga.com