North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong arrived in Beijing on Tuesday, apparently en route on a rare trip to New York later this week.

Ri was seen arriving at the Beijing Capital International Airport and whisked away in a vehicle belonging to the North Korean ambassador to China, Ji Jae-ryong.

The U.N. plans to hold a high-level signing ceremony on Friday for the so-called Paris Agreement adopted in December to replace the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, and the North Korean foreign minister is scheduled to attend the ceremony, according to the U.N. spokesman's office.

The rare trip by Ri to New York comes amid signs that North Korea may conduct its fifth nuclear test ahead of the North's key party congress early next month.

North Korea has been slapped with tougher international sanctions since early last month over the January nuclear test and launch of a long-range rocket in February. (Yonhap)