The location of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il remained a mystery on Friday amid a series of rumours that he was in Beijing, possibly for nuclear talks.
Other rumours, quickly picked up by global media outlets, had him in southern China near the border with Hong Kong staying at a luxury hotel while more speculation placed him in Russia.
According to one report, Kim had not even left Pyongyang but had perhaps sent an envoy or relative on a special train that apparently crossed the North Korean border into China on Tuesday.
Just as with his cat-and-mouse approach on his nation’s nuclear weapons programme, Kim appeared to have the whole world guessing.
China, one of North Korea’s few allies, has instituted a policy during Kim’s three previous visits of confirming nothing until he has left the country and continued to frustrate journalists on Thursday.
“At present I have no information to give to you on this,” foreign ministry spokesperson Kong Quan told reporters at a regular briefing. “I know you are all closely interested to know about this, but at present I have nothing.”
Kong said it is China’s policy to announce the movements of its leaders but hinted that Beijing was respecting a North Korean demand for secrecy.
“Each country has its own way to distribute information. Of course as journalists you expect to get information first hand but at the same time you should understand that each country has its own methods,” he said.
Speculation that Kim may be in China had raised hopes of a potential breakthrough in the stalled six-nation talks aimed at dismantling North Korea’s nuclear program.
The chief US envoy on the North Korean nuclear issue, Christopher Hill, paid a lightning visit to Beijing on Thursday but said there were no plans to meet any North Koreans there. – AFP