North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met a senior Chinese official in Pyongyang, state media said Friday, his first reception of a foreign guest since taking power after the death of his father Kim Jong-il.

Kim held talks with Wang Jiarui, the head of the International Liaison Department of China's Communist Party, and other Chinese officials, the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in an English-language dispatch.

It was Kim's first confirmed reception of a foreign dignitary as the country's leader since he took over power following his father Kim Jong-il died in December.

"During the meeting, Wang conveyed greetings from the collective leadership of China, including General Secretary Hu Jintao," the KCNA noted. The Chinese official also asserted his country's policy to strengthen the long-time ties between the two countries and expressed his belief that the "Sino-DPRK friendship would bloom more beautifully and yield rich fruits," according to the KCNA.

In response, Kim expressed his gratefulness, the North's official mouthpiece said, adding they had "a cordial and friendly talk," which was followed by a dinner party. 

The Thursday meeting marks Kim's official debut in diplomacy as he moves to cement his partnership with China, the North's strongest ally and a major source of foreign income.

"The two sides should also enhance strategic communication and coordination on major global and regional issues, and make unremitting efforts to safeguard peace and stability on the Korea Peninsula and achieve lasting peace in Northeast Asia," China's state media Xinhua quoted Wang as saying in the meeting.

Whether they discussed Kim's China visit or the multilateral

talks concerning the North's nuclear disarmament were not known.   

Since ascending to power, Kim has not paid a visit to foreign countries. (Yonhap News)

<관련 한글 기사>

북한 김정은, “한반도 평화 위해 노력”

북한 김정은 노동당 제1비서가 남북한의 평화와 안정을 원한다는 뜻을 중국에 전달한 것으로 알려졌다.

3일 복수의 외신에 따르면 평양을 방문한 왕자루이(王家瑞) 중국 공산당 연락부장을 만난 김정은 제1비서는 “조선은 계속해 한반도의 평화와 안정 유지를 위해 적극적으로 노력한다” 고 말했다.

김정은 제1비서는 “경제 발전과 국민생활 개선으로 하여금 북한국민이 문명적이고 행복한 생활을 하는 것이 조선노동당의 목표” 라며 “북한국민들은 조선노동당의 주위에서 결속을 굳히고 있으며, 높은 투지로 힘을 다해 건설하고, 적극적으로 사회주의의 각 사회활동을 추진하고 있다” 고 말한 것으로 알려졌다.

왕자루이 연락관은 후진타오(胡錦濤) 중국 국가주석의 메시지도 함께 전달한 것으로 보인다. 이와 함께 관측통들은 김정은 제1비서의 중국 방문과 관련한 의견도 나눈 것으로 보고 있다.

김정은 제1비서는 지난 4월 북한 최고 지도자로 정식 취임한 이후 해외요인과의 회담은 이번이 처음인 것으로 알려졌다. (헤럴드 경제)