With the landmark U.S.-North Korea summit set to take place next month,... the Kim Jong-un regime is looking looking to improve its ties with its long-time ally, China.<br />The feeling is mutual from Beijing as well... with China's leader said to be interested in visiting Pyongyang in June.<br />Kim Hyo-sun reports.<br /> <br /> Chinese President Xi Jinping might visit North Korea in June,... following the summit between Washington and Pyongyang.<br />Citing multiple sources,... Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the matter appears to have been discussed between the regime's leader Kim Jong-un and Song Tao,... a senior Chinese diplomat,... visiting Pyongyang with a Chinese art delegation.<br />Although Beijing's foreign ministry did not confirm the details of the discussion,... it did say that high-level exchanges play a crucial role in the relationship between the two allies. <br /><br /> "Not long ago, President Xi Jinping said that he would like to keep in touch with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the new era through exchanges, envoy visits, messages to each other and other methods to maintain constant contact."<br /><br /> Mending its relations with Beijing appears to be crucial for North Korea,... especially with its scheduled summit with Washington. <br />And China on its part appears to be trying to ramp up its influence over the Korean Peninsula by improving its relations with Pyongyang,... at a time when Washington-Beijing tensions remain high.<br /> The Pyongyang performance by the Chinese art troupe is also a sign of warming ties between Beijing and the North,... after Kim's landmark visit to the Chinese capital last month.<br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News. <br />
