Kim holds secret talks in China

Kim is on a secret mission to China amid rising global tension over his regime's nuclear weapons programmes. There, he is expected to reaffirm the alliance between the two countries and also request economic aid.

The communist leader is said to have left Pyongyang on Sunday by rail to China for an official four-day visit, where he is expected to meet other government heads including Premier Wen Jiabao and former president Jiang Zemin.

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The reports also said Kim was joined by an entourage of 40 high-level officials in the ruling party, state and military, on a trip aimed at shoring up ties with Beijing. The reports of the visit, however, have yet to be confirmed by authorities in Seoul and Beijing.

An official at Seoul's Foreign Ministry remained tight-lipped about information on Kim's trip, only saying that China and North Korea have a "unique relationship" and that a secret visit was possible since they have become more frequent in recent years.

"The past two visits by Kim Jong-il to China were also made secretly and announced only after the trips were completed," the official told The Korea Herald. "Either side may propose to keep it a secret and our mouths will be sealed until afterwards."

Declining to answer questions confirming the trip, the official said it was "difficult for a third-country to come out and discuss the matter." Officials agreed that rumors about Kim's visit to China had been circulating for some time.