Chinese official meets North Korean leader Kim in highest-level talks for years

Choe Ryong Hae, right, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Workers’ Party of North Korea, talks with Zhao Leji (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

A senior Chinese official has reaffirmed ties with North Korea during a meeting with the country’s leader Kim Jong Un, China’s state media reported, in the highest-level talks between the allies in years.

The visit to Pyongyang by Zhao Leji, who ranks third in the ruling Communist Party hierarchy and heads China’s ceremonial parliament, came as North Korea has test fired missiles to intimidate South Korea and its ally the US.